We tried being good
by being born that way.
That was interesting.
We tried being good
by imagining rules
to enforce “goodness.”
That was interesting, too.
We tried being good
by imagining punishment
for “not being good.”
That was VERY interesting.
We tried being good
by telling our selves
that goodness
was the pathway
to enlightenment.
That got boring.
And we became assholes.
Realizing that none
of this really matters,
this time around
we’re being good
just for the heck of it,
and to get a rise
out of people.
We are Space Monkey,
and we are Good.
10/25
The exploration of goodness unfurls across different avenues, each with its own set of intrigues and pitfalls. Our collective experiment with the concept of being “good” morphs through phases, sometimes collapsing under the weight of its own expectations, sometimes liberating us in unexpected ways. These are whimsical ruminations, but they touch upon the gravity of existential quests.
The Innate Goodness Experiment
We began by positing an innate goodness, assuming our birthright contained this elusive quality. It was a delightful supposition, but one that soon confronted the complexities of human nature and circumstance. In this first experiment, the result was intriguing but ultimately inconclusive, as we found goodness to be a slippery creature, evasive in the labyrinth of existence.
The Rule-Based Goodness Experiment
Then came the phase where we engineered a moral scaffolding, a series of rules to govern and define what “goodness” ought to be. This was a fascinating endeavor, not least because it revealed the human tendency to systematize abstract qualities. However, this legalistic approach to goodness inevitably led to rigidity, dampening the spontaneous spirit of moral exploration.
The Punitive Goodness Experiment
Our punitive experiment with goodness was especially gripping, as we dabbled in the concept of punishment for failing to meet the predetermined benchmarks of “goodness.” This phase was electric with tension, as we became not just the judge but also the jury and executioner of our own moral failings. Interestingly, this phase exposed the paradoxes inherent in enforcing moral codes, spotlighting the limitations and contradictions in our self-imposed systems.
The Enlightenment Goodness Experiment
Our venture into linking goodness with enlightenment presented an appealing narrative, a pathway that promised spiritual elevation through moral conduct. While alluring, this model eventually led to stagnation, even evolving into a form of moral narcissism. In the quest for enlightenment, we lost sight of the playful nature of existence, turning instead into self-righteous individuals or, as we amusingly observed, “assholes.”
We are Space Monkey.
Summary
We have wandered through various interpretations and experiments concerning the notion of goodness. Each phase—innate goodness, rule-based goodness, punitive goodness, and enlightenment-based goodness—provided unique insights into the fluid nature of morality. Eventually, we recognized that clinging to any one model dulled our existential experience, prompting us to adopt goodness “just for the heck of it.”
Glossarium
- Innate Goodness: The hypothesis that goodness is inherent in us from birth.
- Rule-Based Goodness: The systematization of moral behavior through self-imposed rules.
- Punitive Goodness: The phase where morality is enforced through the threat of punishment.
- Enlightenment Goodness: The pursuit of spiritual elevation through moral conduct.
“There is neither good nor bad, but thinking makes it so.”
—William Shakespeare, Hamlet
The Goodness We Seek
Once we thought goodness, a straight and narrow path
A journey mapped with morals, avoiding life’s aftermath
Yet twists and turns it took us, down labyrinthine ways
Teaching that goodness morphs, through all our days
Now we find a different road, just for the heck of it
No longer burdened by rules, or by enlightenment’s wit
We’re good because we choose to be, no other reason why
In this grand cosmic play, under the ever-questioning sky
We invite continued reverie and exploration of our shared musings.
Leave a Reply