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Is True Virtue Based on Feeling or Objective Reality? | Jonathan Edwards
Deep Dive into The Nature of True Virtue by Jonathan Edwards - In What Respects Virtue or Moral Good Is Founded in Sentiment; and How Far It Is Founded in the Reason and Nature of Things
Virtue is inherently beautiful and pleasing, and humans recognize this moral beauty through an immediate sentiment or sensation rather than through logical argumentation. If claiming that virtue is founded in sentiment means we perceive it through an inward frame of mind or a spiritual sense given by God, then the claim is accurate.
However, this moral sentiment is not given arbitrarily by God. Virtue essentially consists of the union or consent of being to being in general. If God had given humans a contrary nature that opposed being in general, it would violate the necessary nature of things and lead to absolute discord among creatures and their Creator. Because God is essentially being in general, he must inherently love himself, and he imparts this same agreeable temper to his creatures. Furthermore, a benevolent temper is the only way an individual can remain internally consistent, as universally desiring misery would logically contradict one's own necessary desire for happiness.
Because this spiritual sense aligns perfectly with the reality of the universe, the scriptures accurately describe it as true knowledge or light. Similarly, the common moral sense found in natural conscience is fundamentally aligned with the nature of things, as it inherently approves of uniformity and natural agreement. While different cultures and individuals might apply moral terms differently due to errors, biases, or customs, the underlying principle of recognizing moral desert remains consistent across humanity. The way humans use language to debate right and wrong proves that people rely on a universal standard of merit, demonstrating that virtue is firmly rooted in the fundamental nature of things rather than arbitrary human whims.
Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologian
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReformedExplainer
Spotify Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1t5dz4vEgvHqUknYQfwpRI?si=e-tDRFR2Qf6By1sAcMdkdw
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By Edison WuDeep Dive into The Nature of True Virtue by Jonathan Edwards - In What Respects Virtue or Moral Good Is Founded in Sentiment; and How Far It Is Founded in the Reason and Nature of Things
Virtue is inherently beautiful and pleasing, and humans recognize this moral beauty through an immediate sentiment or sensation rather than through logical argumentation. If claiming that virtue is founded in sentiment means we perceive it through an inward frame of mind or a spiritual sense given by God, then the claim is accurate.
However, this moral sentiment is not given arbitrarily by God. Virtue essentially consists of the union or consent of being to being in general. If God had given humans a contrary nature that opposed being in general, it would violate the necessary nature of things and lead to absolute discord among creatures and their Creator. Because God is essentially being in general, he must inherently love himself, and he imparts this same agreeable temper to his creatures. Furthermore, a benevolent temper is the only way an individual can remain internally consistent, as universally desiring misery would logically contradict one's own necessary desire for happiness.
Because this spiritual sense aligns perfectly with the reality of the universe, the scriptures accurately describe it as true knowledge or light. Similarly, the common moral sense found in natural conscience is fundamentally aligned with the nature of things, as it inherently approves of uniformity and natural agreement. While different cultures and individuals might apply moral terms differently due to errors, biases, or customs, the underlying principle of recognizing moral desert remains consistent across humanity. The way humans use language to debate right and wrong proves that people rely on a universal standard of merit, demonstrating that virtue is firmly rooted in the fundamental nature of things rather than arbitrary human whims.
Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologian
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReformedExplainer
Spotify Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1t5dz4vEgvHqUknYQfwpRI?si=e-tDRFR2Qf6By1sAcMdkdw
https://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730