In Hindu philosophy there is an excellent model of examining reality that states that the functions of reality operate in three modes (Gunas): Sattva, raja, and tamas, which translate to goodness, passion, and ignorance, or knowledge, attachment, and oblivion/destruction.
They vary like levels on an equalizer, or to use another analogy, like primary colors that mix to varying infinite colors.
All actions operate within the three modes. Ghandi acted mostly in the mode of goodness; Bill Gates in the mode of passion; Charles Manson in the mode of ignorance. This is a simplistic example. When we look at the world with the model of the three modes we can see the functions more clearly.
Bigotry = ignorance
Nationalism = goodness + ignorance
Terrorism = passion + ignorance
Greed = passion + ignorance
Fear = ignorance
Charity = goodness + passion
Art = goodness + passion
Ideology = goodness + ignorance or passion + ignorance
Belief = goodness + ignorance
Narcissism = passion + ignorance
Helping someone pick up something they dropped = goodness
Sharing knowledge = goodness
Sports = passion
Feeding the hungry = goodness
Politics = passion + ignorance
Teaching = passion + goodness
Science = passion
Lust = passion
Love = goodness
And so on...
We all live within varying degrees of these modes in a world that functions in these three modes.
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