It has sometimes been said that we find nowhere in nature an analogue of the difference between happens and is, on the one hand, and ought, on the other hand.

Summary

This quote suggests that in nature, we can observe what happens or exists, but we cannot directly derive moral or ethical judgments from nature alone. The distinction lies between describing what occurs in the natural world and what is considered morally right or wrong. While nature demonstrates causality, patterns, and processes, it does not provide inherent guidance on what humans should do or what values they should hold. This quote highlights the gap between descriptive statements about facts and normative statements about moral principles or duties.

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