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Author: Ryder Richards

A cultural detective's journey into philosophy, art, sociology, and psychology with Ryder Richards. (Formerly known as "The Will to DIY")
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Language: en

Genres: Personal Journals, Philosophy, Society & Culture

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The semantic drift of "good"
Episode 85
Friday, 21 February, 2025

Ryder Richards discusses the evolution and degradation of the concept of "good" in moral language, referencing Nietzsche, Shell, and McIntyre. Nietzsche argues that "good" originated as a term for nobility but was inverted by the oppressed into a virtue of meekness. Shell suggests that modern morality has been corrupted by utility, aligning with capitalism and democracy. McIntyre claims that modern society suffers from moral fragmentation, rendering ethical discussions incoherent. Richards ties these ideas to Orwell's 1984, emphasizing the structural collapse of language and the futility of moral progress in modern culture wars. He concludes that the concept of "good" has lost its original meaning and is now used without clear definition.