The problem is that our culture views good and bad as some cosmic dual between the forces of righteousness and evil, but they are the basic biological binary of beneficial and detrimental. The 1/0 of life. Even bacteria sense this dichotomy. Seeking an ideal good is like seeking an ideal yes, or an ideal up.

Much like computer programing is based on 1/0, our biological and social existence is based on this foundation, but that makes it elemental, not an ideal. All the higher order inclinations, desires, ethical codes, such as trust, responsibility, respect, honor, love , as well as the more negative impulses evolved as permutations and feedback out of this basis. Like all the colors of the spectrum are between light and dark.

So when we treat them as aspiration, rather than foundation, conflicts quickly become a race to the bottom of us versus them, good versus bad, black versus white.

Rather than each side being able to expect the other to hold to the structure of developed emotional feedback and understanding the nuances of any situation can potentially be used to further develop social intelligence and positive feedback.

The real conflict is between the desires driving us on and the need to sort and decide among them. The anarchy of desire, versus the tyranny of judgement.

The heart and the head.