Commendation

Abstract

We have now finally arrived at the appraisive vocabulary that has so often been considered in independence of the whole preceding body of character-isms: in the last sub-sections of 15.0 we come to the vocabulary good-excellent-valuable (and their negations). These are ultimate and also general appraisives, a distinction which will be clarified as we proceed. It is sufficient for the moment to say that all terms here are general, including the ultimates, that is the general vocabularies “govern” or “range over” all of the preceding terms in the characterization of man and a considerable vocabulary besides. The term good, to take the prime term of the class, is employed not only to commend men, their works, and all other human concerns, but also to commend other things. What this further field may comprise is suggested in the Appendices: A (objects of the intellect), B (transcendental and religious appraisives), C (aesthetic appraisives), (D humorous appraisives), E (physical appraisives), and F (general or metaphysical appraisives).