29.7.05

virtue and vice

just an idea here - when we speak of virtues and vices -
i.e. - courage and cowardice

there is no distinction between natural and non-natural
qualities

a courageous act is an act - and a good act

but this is not what we say

we don't say -

x is A and x is G

it is a 'courageous act'

the report of such an act makes no distinction

no distinction between fact and value

such an act is a moral act

it really seems beside the point to analyze into act -
plus courage

such virtue predicates as 'is courageous' are peculiarly human

on the other hand you have natural predicates - that apply
to all natural things including humans

so we have n-predicates (natural predicates) and h-predicates
(human predicates)

the h-predicates are a class of n-predicates

so there is no question of the naturalistic fallacy

and I would say - to understand - the concept of a h-predicate -
you need to observe (behaviour) and reflect (think) -

the same applies to n-predicates

there is no gulf - only specialty