BIT SUĐENJA O DOBRU I ZLU
THE ESSENCE OF JUDGING THE GOOD AND THE EVIL

Summary/Abstract: Modern times are characterized by the abundance of philosophical, scientific and theological thinking, sometimes completely opposing one another. Therefore, it is unreliable for realization. And man is a rational being whose existence depends on the power of his mind to judge the good and the evil, and the actions that are useful or harmful for its existence. For, it is the effort with which it is trying to prolong its existence that is the essence and the highest virtue of every being, including man, and human community. Spinoza says: Nobody can wish to be happy (blessed), to work well, to live well, without at the same time wishing to exist, to work, to live, in other words, to really exist. (…). The effort (striving) for self-preservation is the first and only foundation of virtue. For, before this principle, no other one can be understood, and without it, no virtue can be understood27. Therefore, man must judge every affection as something that helps or prevents his existence, and is therefore good or bad, so the notion that affects him becomes good or bad. That is an essence of treatise The Essence of Judging the Good and the Evil, where we shall try to show that man is a being who judges the notions in this way, and can be educated and trained to judge well about the actions which enable or prevent his existence.

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