Our brains are limited. The world is vast, yet we as humans have done a fairly good job of using our relatively small brains to do some pretty amazing things. Surprisingly, we do not get completely overwhelmed by all the information available. And we have managed to make correct – or at least adequate – decisions with fair regularity on our way to greatness.
To accomplish this amazing feat, we have developed an uncanny ability to create relatively simple models of the world around us. These models funnel all that vast information into more manageable categories.
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Here is a brief introduction to the Eight Great Goods – in roughly the order most people in the world see those around them prioritising the eight. They are:
- Life (health, nutrition, having children, nature, staying alive);
- Growth (economic success, material well-being, gainful employment);
- Society (social relations, nation, community, workplace, family, friends);
- Stability (routine, safety, rule of law, predictability);
- Joy (entertainment, sports, fun, beauty, amusement, learning);
- Belief (religion, spirituality, higher power);
- Individuality (privacy, recognition, ownership, voice, dignity); and
- Fairness (rights, equality, sharing).