Why don’t the words good and evil used as adjectives convey convincing objective meaning?

Good and Evil when used as adjectives, often lack objective meaning because their interpretation depends on context, perspective, and subjective values. 

1. Relativity to Context: “Good” and “evil” are not absolute; their meaning shifts based on circumstances.  A “good” decision in one situation (e.g., a strict law to maintain order) might be seen as “evil” in another (e.g., if it restricts freedom). Without specific context, these terms are vague and open to interpretation.
   
   

2. Subjective Interpretation: People define “good” and “evil” based on personal beliefs, cultural norms, or moral frameworks. What one person considers good (e.g., individual liberty) another might see as evil (e.g., if it leads to chaos). This subjectivity makes it hard to pin down a universal, objective definition.
   
   

3. Lack of Measurable Criteria: Unlike objective descriptors (e.g., “tall” or “heavy”), “good” and “evil” don’t have clear, measurable standards. There’s no universal metric to quantify them, so their application often relies on individual or societal judgment.
   
   

4. Moral and Philosophical Complexity: Philosophers like Nietzsche and Kant have shown that “good” and “evil” are tied to complex moral systems. For instance, utilitarianism might define “good” as what maximizes happiness, while a deontological view might define it as adherence to duty. These differing frameworks dilute objectivity.
   
   

5. Cultural and Historical Variability: What’s deemed “good” or “evil” changes across cultures and time. For example, practices once considered “good” (like certain forms of punishment) are now widely seen as “evil.” This variability undermines a fixed, objective meaning.
   
   

In essence, “good” and “evil” are more like placeholders for value judgments than precise descriptors. They carry weight emotionally and rhetorically but lack the specificity needed for objective clarity. To make them meaningful, they need to be grounded in a shared context or explicit criteria.