1930.Value

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Value judglnents elnploying gerundive predicates presuppose "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. x's are those that have factual characteristics a, b, and c because these characteristics are good for things having factual characteristics d, c, and f. (This simply applies H. Richard Niebuhr's principle that, 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 n..eet the other being's needs, fit its capacity, complement its poentialities, and so on.) Thus "x is good for things having factual characteristics d, e, andf' Inay be validly inferred from this norn.. taken as the major premise, together with 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

As for objective relativism's concept, "center of value/' it is equivalent functionally to "(prilnary) determinant of meaning" (V. Bri.ilnmer). In the exalnple cited, things having factual characteristics

4 April 2007