ABSTRACT
As human beings, we all have certain capacities that are deeply characteristic of our nature. Traditionally, perfectionists hold that these capacities include our rationality-both theoretical and practical-and physical capacities, and may include others. The exercise and development of these capacities constitute our good-our flourishing as human beings, as some perfectionists put it. Knowledge, achievement, and friendships are good at least in part because they manifest the development of our characteristically human capacities: endeavors such as achievements, learning, and close friendships constitute our flourishing. The more we excel in these domains, the better we fare as human beings.
