Single Idea 16956

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 1. Virtue Theory / d. Virtue theory critique]

Full Idea

It cannot be explained what it is for a person to be generous without first explaining what it is for an action to be generous.

Gist of Idea

To explain generosity in a person, you must understand a generous action

Source

Michael Dummett (Could There Be Unicorns? [1983], 4)

Book Reference

Dummett,Michael: 'The Seas of Language' [OUP 1993], p.336


A Reaction

I presume a slot machine can't be 'generous', even if it favours the punter, so you can't specify a generous action without making reference to the person. A benign circle, as Aristotle says.