SIX INFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WORDS

What is literature?
If someone writes something, and at least two other people have a critical discussion about it -- then that is literature.
What is a critical discussion?
People talking about what some writing means. The discussion is grounded in some sort of philosophy involving the world outside the text.
Can't you just talk about a piece of writing as it is, without choosing to treat it from a particular philosophical position?
A lot of people say no -- that's impossible -- and they can make some convincing arguments supporting that.
What makes writing "good"?
If someone pays money for it.
How are good writing and literature related?
They're not. Plane tickets are good writing -- but not literature, since we don't have critical discussions about their text. Restaurant menus are often literature, but not good writing, since you get the menu to read for free.
So what's the higher objective -- good writing or literature?
That depends on the goals of the author. The more he appreciates money, the more he should produce good writing. The more he appreciates thought about his writing, the more he should produce literature.