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28-401: Good is that which is to be preferred and prescribed; not evil. Good or Goods may also refer to: Good Every language has a word expressing good in the sense of "having the right or desirable quality" ( ἀρετή ) and bad in the sense "undesirable". A sense of moral judgment and a distinction "right and wrong, good and bad" are cultural universals . Although the history of

56-530: A harmful religious sect and translate into English as " cult ". The Macmillan Encyclopedia of Religion distinguishes three types of classification of Buddhism, separated into "Movements", "Nikāyas" and "Doctrinal schools": While the historical usage of the term "sect" in Christendom has had pejorative connotations, referring to a group or movement with heretical beliefs or practices that deviate from those of groups considered orthodox, its primary meaning

84-472: A high degree of tension with the surrounding society. They further assert that sects have, in contrast to churches, a high degree of tension with the surrounding society. Other sociologists, like Fred Kniss, suggest that sectarianism is best understood through the lens of what the sect opposes. Some religious groups may be in tension primarily with other co-religious groups of different ethnic backgrounds, while others may conflict with society at large rather than

112-468: A main body, but it can now apply to any group that diverges from a larger organization to follow a distinct set of beliefs and practices. Sects often form when there is a perception of heresy either within the subgroup or from the larger group. In an Indian context, sect refers to an organized tradition. The word sect originates from the Latin noun secta (a feminine form of a variant past participle of

140-403: A religious concept, basic ideas of a dichotomy between good and evil has developed in western cultures so that today: In cultures with Buddhist spiritual influence, this antagonistic duality itself must be overcome through achieving Śūnyatā , or emptiness. This is the recognition of good and evil not being unrelated, but two parts of a greater whole; unity, oneness, a Monism . Morality

168-430: A return to what they view as authentic religious practices. Their beliefs and practices are usually more radical and ethically strict than those of mainstream churches, acting as a form of protest against the prevailing societal values. The American sociologists Rodney Stark and William Sims Bainbridge argue that sects present themselves as authentic, reformed versions of the faith they have separated from, maintaining

196-485: A sect is not inherited at birth; rather, it arises from a person's voluntary acceptance of the sect's doctrines and disciplines, which requires ongoing validation from both the follower and the sect itself. Sects often attract individuals from marginalized or underprivileged social groups and typically form from schisms within established churches that align with the dominant social order. Sects frequently critique liberal trends within mainstream denominations, advocating for

224-598: A very important distinction, "sun is not sight", but it is "the cause of sight itself". As the sun is in the visible realm, the form of Good is in the intelligible realm. It is "what gives truth to the things known and the power to know to the knower". It is not only the "cause of knowledge and truth, it is also an object of knowledge". Plato identifies how the form of the Good allows for the cognizance to understand such difficult concepts as justice. He identifies knowledge and truth as important, but through Socrates (508d–e) says, "good

252-442: Is regarded by some biologists (notably Edward O. Wilson , Jeremy Griffith , David Sloan Wilson , and Frans de Waal ) as an important question to be addressed by the field of biology. Sect A sect is a subgroup of a religious , political , or philosophical belief system, typically emerging as an offshoot of a larger organization. Originally, the term referred specifically to religious groups that had separated from

280-421: Is to indicate a community which has separated itself from the larger body from which its members came. The Indologist Axel Michaels writes in his book about Hinduism that in an Indian context the word "sect does not denote a split or excluded community, but rather an organized tradition, usually established by founder with ascetic practices." According to Michaels, "Indian sects do not focus on heresy, since

308-505: Is yet more prized". He then proceeds to explain that "although the good is not being" it is "superior to it in rank and power", it is what "provides for knowledge and truth" (508e). In contrast to Plato, Aristotle discusses the Forms of Good in critical terms several times in both of his major surviving ethical works, the Eudemian and Nicomachean Ethics . Aristotle argues that Plato's Form of

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336-670: The history of Islam . Sunnis are separated into five maddhabs ; Hanafi , Maliki , Shafi'i , Hanbali and Ẓāhirī . The Shia, on the other hand, first developed Kaysanism , which in turn divided into three major groupings known as Fivers , Seveners and Twelvers . The Zaydis separated first. The non-Zaydis were initially called " Rafida ". The Rafidis later divided into two sub-groups known as Imamiyyah and Batiniyyah . An Islamic convention held in Jordan in July 2005, which brought 200 Muslim scholars from over 50 countries together, announced

364-623: The pantheon of early Iranian deities into two opposing forces : Ahura Mazda ( Illuminating Wisdom ) and Angra Mainyu ( Destructive Spirit ) that were in conflict. For the western world, this idea developed into a religion that spawned many sects , some of which embraced an extreme dualistic belief that the material world should be shunned and the spiritual world should be embraced. Gnostic ideas influenced many ancient religions, which teach that gnosis (variously interpreted as enlightenment , salvation , liberation , or "oneness with God") may be reached by practising philanthropy to

392-452: The Good does not apply to the physical world, for Plato does not assign "goodness" to anything in the existing world. Because Plato's Form of the Good does not explain events in the physical world, humans have no reason to believe that the Form of the Good exists and the Form of the Good thereby, is irrelevant to human ethics. Plato and Aristotle were not the first contributors in ancient Greece to

420-457: The basic concept of Good and Evil until it came to have several, sometimes complex definitions such as: A significant enlightenment context for studying the "good" has been its significance in the study of " the good, the true, and the beautiful " as found in Immanuel Kant and other Enlightenment philosophers and religious thinkers. These discussions were undertaken by Kant, particularly in

448-695: The church they originally separated from. Sectarianism in the sociology of religion , is sometimes defined as a worldview that emphasizes the unique legitimacy of a sect's creed and practices, often heightening tension with broader society by maintaining strict boundaries. In his book The Road to Total Freedom , the English sociologist Roy Wallis describes that a sect is characterized by " epistemological authoritarianism": meaning it has an authoritative source for determining heresy. According to Wallis, sects claim to have unique and privileged access to truth or salvation, and their followers often view those outside

476-454: The context of his Critique of Practical Reason . John Rawls 's book A Theory of Justice prioritized social arrangements and goods, based on their contribution to justice . Rawls defined justice as fairness , especially in distributing social goods, defined fairness in terms of procedures, and attempted to prove that just institutions and lives are good, if every rational individual's goods are considered fairly. Rawls's crucial invention

504-530: The emergence of monotheistic thought (notably in Euthyphro , which ponders the concept of piety ( τὸ ὅσιον ) as a moral absolute). The idea is further developed in Late Antiquity by Neoplatonists , Gnostics , and Church Fathers . Aside from ancient Greek studies of the "good", more than twenty-five hundred years ago in the eastern part of ancient Persia a religious philosopher called Zoroaster simplified

532-640: The group as being in error. In contrast, Wallis describes cults as being marked by "epistemological individualism," The corresponding words for "sect" in European languages other than English – Sekte (German), secte (French), secta (Spanish, Catalan), sectă (Romanian), setta (Italian), seita (Portuguese, Galician), sekta (Polish, Czech, Slovak, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Slovenian, Latvian, Lithuanian), sekt (Danish, Estonian, Norwegian, Swedish), sekte (Dutch), szekta (Hungarian), секта (Russian, Serbian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian), σέχτα (Greek) – refer to

560-461: The lack of a center or a compulsory center makes this impossible – instead, the focus is on adherents and followers." Islam was classically divided into two major sects, known as Sunni Islam and Shia Islam . Kharijite and Murijite Islam were two early Islamic sects. Each sect developed several distinct jurisprudence systems reflecting their own understanding of the Islamic law during the course of

588-687: The origin of the use of the concept and meaning of "good" are diverse, the notable discussions of Plato and Aristotle on this subject have been of significant historical effect. The first references that are seen in Plato's The Republic to the Form of the Good are within the conversation between Glaucon and Socrates (454c–d). When trying to answer such difficult questions pertaining to the definition of justice , Plato identifies that we should not "introduce every form of difference and sameness in nature" instead we must focus on "the one form of sameness and difference that

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616-400: The past participle of the verb secare , to cut). Sociologists have developed various definitions and descriptions for the term "sect." Early scholars like Max Weber and Ernst Troeltsch (1912) were among the first to define sects within the church-sect typology, viewing them as voluntary associations of individuals who meet specific religious qualifications. Unlike churches, membership in

644-450: The point of personal poverty, sexual abstinence (as far as possible for hearers and totally for initiates ), and diligently searching for wisdom by helping others. This development from the relative or habitual to the absolute is evident in the terms ethics and morality as well, both being derived from terms for "regional custom", Greek ἦθος and Latin mores , respectively (see also siðr ). Medieval Christian philosophy

672-415: The study of the "good" and discussion preceding them can be found among the pre-Socratic philosophers. In Western civilisation, the basic meanings of κακός and ἀγαθός are "bad, cowardly" and "good, brave, capable", and their absolute sense emerges only around 400 BC, with Pre-Socratic philosophy , in particular Democritus . Morality in this absolute sense solidifies in the dialogues of Plato , together with

700-402: The verb sequi , to follow) which translates to "a way, road". Figuratively, it signifies a (prescribed) way, mode, or manner. Metonymously , sect refers to a discipline or school of thought as defined by a set of methods and doctrines. The various modern usages of the term stem largely from confusion with the homonymous (but etymologically unrelated) Latin word secta (the feminine form of

728-518: Was founded on the work of Bishop Augustine of Hippo and theologian Thomas Aquinas , who understood evil in terms of Biblical infallibility and Biblical inerrancy , as well as the influences of Plato and Aristotle, in their appreciation of the concept of the Summum bonum . Silent contemplation was the route to appreciation of the Idea of the Good. Many medieval Christian theologians both broadened and narrowed

756-415: Was relevant to the particular ways of life themselves”, which is the form of the Good. This form is the basis for understanding all other forms, it is what allows us to understand everything else. Through the conversation between Socrates and Glaucon (508a–c) Plato analogizes the form of the Good with the sun as it is what allows us to see things. Here, Plato describes how the sun allows for sight. But he makes

784-463: Was the original position , a procedure in which one tries to make objective moral decisions by refusing to let personal facts about oneself enter one's moral calculations. In religion, ethics, and philosophy, " good and evil " is a very common dichotomy . In cultures with Manichaean and Abrahamic religious influence, evil is usually perceived as the antagonistic opposite of good . Good is that which should prevail and evil should be defeated. As

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