Intrinsic Goodness

          Intrinsic goodness is a rather difficult and abstract concept to explain because we live in a rather concrete-thinking, purpose-driven society. However, I will do my best to explain this convoluted conundrum of a seeming lexical gap. Intrinsic goodness implies a quality that does not require an external force or entity to vindicate its existence.


          To make this concept a bit more concrete, here is a list of things that I believe to be intrinsically good (in no particular order):

-life

-music

-contentment

-literature

-truth

-friendship

-self-expression

-freedom

-novelty

-security

-harmony

-achievement

-consciousness

-justice

-mental acuity

-balance

-adventure

-forgiveness

-compassion

-love

  These things do not seem to have easily discernible purposes, do they? Sure, after much time and effort, one could come up for reasons why these things are good, but the reality remains that they, themselves, need no rationalization.


           Experiencing friendship is a rather interesting phenomenon. The feeling of acceptance from one’s peers, one’s closest relationships, is a comforting thing. Just being with friends, talking about nonsensical subjects or exchanging witty quips about pointless matters gives me, personally, a sense of goodness being done (if that makes any sense). The rapport, the camaraderie, is brilliant and socially fulfilling. But what function does it, or sociality for that matter, serve necessarily? While you can surely search for explanations, you know from experience that it is intrinsically good, that the virtue of friendship is so deeply-rooted in us that it needs no argument.