The common good is a concept much discussed and rarely understood. For many, it seems only to be a preference disguised as a universal ideal. For others, it is a grand metaphysical claim, drawing us inevitably into weighty philosophical discussions. These opposite stances can often devolve into debates between Hobbesians and Thomists over the meaning and implications of the ideal of “the Good.” These debates often end up excluding those without degrees in philosophy.
This is such a succinct detailing of the common good. Thank you all so much for starting this substack. One question I have had in thinking about all of this...do common good defenders and integralists have a viewpoint on Distributism? It seems like Integralism is more easily applied in the modern world, but not necessarily at odds with Distributist thinking.
I'm not sure what the historical basis could be for your comment that "However, once such a common culture is weakened or destroyed, the only hope is a renewal and reinvigoration by a responsible governing class." There are plenty of examples of cultural renewal and transformation, including but not limited to religious revival, happening independently of--indeed, sometimes against the wishes of--the governing class.
This is such a succinct detailing of the common good. Thank you all so much for starting this substack. One question I have had in thinking about all of this...do common good defenders and integralists have a viewpoint on Distributism? It seems like Integralism is more easily applied in the modern world, but not necessarily at odds with Distributist thinking.
I'm not sure what the historical basis could be for your comment that "However, once such a common culture is weakened or destroyed, the only hope is a renewal and reinvigoration by a responsible governing class." There are plenty of examples of cultural renewal and transformation, including but not limited to religious revival, happening independently of--indeed, sometimes against the wishes of--the governing class.
I have to do this, but . . . https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/01/why-you-should-never-ever-use-two-spaces-between-sentences/69579/