By Schubert Ogden
Value judglnents elnploying gerundive predicates presuppose
(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,
"x is good (worthy of approval or a pro-attitude)" may be validly inferred
from these two pren..ises: (1) good x's are those that have the characteristics a,
h, and c; and (2) x in fact has the characteristics, a, b, and c.
Value 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 propro-attitude)" may be validly inferred from these two premises: (1) good x's are those that have the characteristics a, h b, and c; and and (2) x in fact has the characteristics, a, b b, and and c.
Assuming this analysis this analysis as essentially correct, one can understand objective relativism .. as a value theory to affirm norms of the form, good good x's are those that have factual characteristics a, b b, and c because these characteristics are good for things things having factual characteristics d, c e, and and f. (This simply applies H. Richard Niebuhr's principle thatthat, if one being is good for another, it is because of its structure and the way in which its structure corresponds to the structure of the other being, so as to meet the other being's needs, fit its capacity, complement its potentialities, and so on.) Thus "x is good for things having factual characteristics d, e e, and it and f may be validly inferred from this norm..this norm taken as the major the major premise, together with the judgment of fact, "x has the characteristics a, b b, and and c," as as the minor premise.
As for objective for objective relativism's conceptconcept, "center of of value," it is equivalent functionally to it is equivalent functionally to "(primary) determinant of determinant of meaning" (V. BrummerBrümmer). In the example In the example cited, things having factual characteristics characteristics d, ee, and! and f are "centers of value," or or "(prirnaryprimary) determinants of determinants of meaning," for things having factual characteristics a, b, and and c.
4 April 2007