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Value judglnents elnploying gerundive predicates presuppose judgments employing gerundive predicates presuppose (1) norms; and (2) judgments of fact to the effect that subjects to which gerundive predicates are applied have the characteristics that the relevant norms specify as requisite to their valid application. So the value judgment, "x is good (worthy of approval or a pro-attitude)" may be validly inferred from inferred from these two pren..isespremises: (1) good x's are those that have the characteristics a,h b, and c; and (2) x in fact has the characteristics, a, b, and c.

Assuming this analysis as essentially correct, one can understand objective relativism as a value theory to affirm norms of the form, good x's are x's are those that have factual characteristics characteristics a,  b, and c because these characteristics these characteristics are good for things having factual characteristics d, ce, and f. (This simply applies H. Richard Niebuhr's principle that, if one being is good for good for another, it is because of its structure and the way in which its structure corresponds structure corresponds to the structure of the other being, so as to n..eet meet the other being's needss needs, fit its capacity, complement its poentialitiespotentialities, and so on.) Thus Thus "xis good is good for things having factual characteristics d, e, andf' Inay be validly inferred from this norn.. and f may be validly inferred from this norm taken as the major premise, together with the judgment the judgment of fact, "x has the characteristics a, b, and c," as the Ininor prelnise. d, e, and! are "centers of value, " or "(prirnary) detenninants of meaning," for things having factual characteristics a, b, and c.

(1) norms; and (2) judglnents of fact to the effect that subjects to which gerundive predicates are applied have the characteristics that the relevant norms specify as requisite to their valid application. So the value judpnent,

AssLUning this analysis as essential!y correct, one can understand objective relativisn.. as a value theory to affinn norms of the form, good

minor premise.

As for objective relativism's concept, "center of value/' ," it is equivalent functionally to "(prilnaryprimary) determinant of meaning" (V. Bri.ilnmerBrümmer). In the exalnple cited, the example cited, things having factual characteristics d, e, and f are "centers of value," or "(primary) determinants of meaning," for things having factual characteristics a, b, and c.

4 April 2007