Therefore, the general duty of benevolence that exists 'prior to' special obligations is an abstraction that never actually operates independently, meaning special obligations partly define rather than merely supplement it.

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Abstract/Abstraction(as used in philosophy): An idea that exists in theory but doesn't show up in the real world by itself; like the concept of 'perfect justice' is abstract because we never see it in pure form in actual life.
Define (in philosophical context)(as used in philosophy): To help shape or create the essential meaning or nature of something, not just to explain its existing meaning — like how your friends partly define who you are by their influence on you.
Prior to (in philosophical context)(as used in logic and metaphysics): In this context, it doesn't mean 'earlier in time' but rather 'more fundamental' or 'more basic' — like a foundation that comes before something else in importance or logic.
Supplement(as used in logic and reasoning): To add something extra to something that already exists, like adding a vitamin to your diet — it adds to what's already there rather than changing the foundation.

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