the nature of generosity. Its definition is to confer what ought to be conferred, without an ulterior purpose. This contains three qualifications:

The first is conferring benefits, for someone who confers no benefit is not generous.

The second is that what is conferred should be something that ought to be conferred, for someone who gives a knife to one who ought not to have it is not generous.”

He said:

“Know that the expression ‘ought’ is ambiguous. Sometimes it denotes rational goodness, as when one says, ‘Knowledge is desirable, whereas ignorance is undesirable.’ Yet the philosophers do not affirm rational goodness and badness. It may also denote permission under religious law, as when one says, ‘Marriage is fitting, whereas fornication is not.’ That is, marriage is permitted under religious law, whereas fornication is forbidden under religious law. This interpretation is likewise inappropriate for the philosophers, and this expression has no clear meaning apart from these two