Assessment Quote by John Searle
“Well, what does "good" mean anyway? As Wittgenstein suggested, "good," like "game," has a family of meanings. Prominent among them is this one: "meets the criteria or standards of assessment or evaluation."”
About This Quote
Source Book: Speech Acts, John Searle, 1969
The term "good" is context‑dependent, similar to "game," and can be defined as meeting relevant criteria or standards.
In simple terms: "Good" means meeting standards.
Key Takeaway
Clarify standards before judging.
Themes
language
meaning
philosophy
Mood
analytical
curious
Type
philosophical
inquisitive
When to use this quote
- ethics discussions
- product reviews
- educational grading
- legal standards
Key Concepts
family resemblance
semantic flexibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide which criteria apply?
- When does "good" become subjective?
A Different Perspective
Meanings can shift across cultures, making consensus hard.
![“"Akrasia" [weakness of will] in rational beings is as common as wine in France.” quote by John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/65d/john-searle-17370_common_akrasia-weakness-of-will-in-rational-bei_976532.jpg)
