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Archive for May, 2008

Defining Generosity

Suppose a person needs $50 to get out of trouble, and he comes to me for help.  I know that if I give him $50 he will get out off trouble and maybe learn his lesson.  I also know that if I give him $100 instead he will have his $50 but will use the extra money to go out and get in trouble again.  What should we think of giving him the smaller sum or the larger sum?  Which is actually the more perfect example of generosity?

Assuming I do not owe him the money, I may reason that giving him the larger amount is MORE generous and therefore more perfect or completely generous. The other perspective is that giving him the smaller amount is actually helping him more because it satisfies his need and keeps him from getting into more trouble.

Does this give insight into the nature of virtue or into a better meaning of perfect?  To do something virtuously or more perfectly is not just to do it in a higher degree, but in a better way.  Actions must be done to the right degree, not just to a larger quantity, higher technology or higher level.