ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the inference from human virtue to divine virtue and thus on premise. The impartial and universal viewpoint in which true virtue consist is the infinite wisdom, justice and rectitude of an indifferent and disinterested person, who would determine that being in general is of greater importance and worthy of greater regard than one being in particular and that degree of regard should always be in proportion to degree of existence. The partial, particular, differential and interested viewpoint in which seeming virtue consists, is the folly and injustice of a biased person, who would determine that particular regard should be to oneself and one’s relations. Virtue depends instead on universal, impartial, indifferent and disinterested regard. Being comprises or contains everything, so that all have existence in common. So, Jonathan Edwards predicates ‘being’, ‘existence’, ‘to be’ and ‘to exist’ to everything in common in his proof of divine virtue.
