Chapter 2

The idea of being as the supreme rule
for judging about good in general

45. Being and good are the same thing; every nature is good in so far as it is and evil in so far as it lacks any part of being belonging to it. An analysis of what is commonly understood by the word 'good' shows that the being of every nature has an intrinsic order determining the necessity of certain parts and qualities, which become what is good and perfect for the nature. Consequently, we know the good or value or grade of perfection of any nature when we know its being and the many grades it has of the existence proper to it, that is, when we know the order possessed by its being and expressed in its essence. The order is understood in the idea, and the more perfect the idea the better understood is the order. We need to know how much of the order of being has been realised, developed and completed or how much is missing and needed for its completion. Knowledge therefore of a thing's being or its mode or order of being is also knowledge of its goodness. Thus, the notion of being alone is sufficient for me to measure and determine both the grades of real existence of a thing and its perfection, because both are found together in the same thing.

If being and good are the same, knowledge of being must also be knowledge of good,(27) being has only to be considered in its intrinsic order for it to be called 'good'. Therefore the idea of being is the notion, rule and principle with which I measure and identify the good of all the natures I perceive and know.

Note

(27) Because the idea of good is nothing more than the idea of being, we can understamd the truth of Plato's statement, 'all knowledge is founded on the idea of good'.