The Common Good Approach

Teri Wuest, Katie Kuen, Rebecca MeixnerTh, 5:30

Ethical Theories PresentationApril 9, 2009

Define Common Good

Individuals own good is parallel with the good of the community, members are bound by the pursuit of common values/goals

http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v7n1/thinking.html

Systems and goods beneficial to all

Social policies Institutions Environments Social systems

Affordable healthcare

Effective public safety

Peace among nations

Just legal system Unpolluted

environment

Aristotle384 BC – 322 BC

Traditional point of view

oEven if the good is the same for the individual and the city, the good of the city clearly is the greater and more perfect thing to attain and to safeguard.

http://assets.cambridge.org/97805218/02055/sample/

9780521802055ws.pdf

The attainment of the good for one person alone is, to be sure, a source of satisfaction; yet to secure it for a nation and for cities is nobler and more and more divine.

Affirmative Action Programs

Do women and minorities deserve to receive differential treatment in job opportunities, qualified of not?

Do minorities deserve preferential treatment in entering college, merits or not?

John Rawls1920-2002

http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:dxQO_P0qSAwJ:libertyunb

ound.com/archive/2003_02/narveson-

rawls.html+john+rawls+on+the+common+good+approach&cd=4&hl

=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

Contemporary point of view

"A Theory of Justice" (1971) “We all have individual rights which

cannot be sacrificed in the name of utility”

“certain general conditions that are…equally to everyone’s advantage.”

Healthcare for all?

Does everyone deserve the same medical treatment, insured or not?

Does it matter what your income is vs. what type of coverage you will receive?

Who pays for it?

Criticism of the common good

All people work for only the common good and get an equal share of total output regardless of how hard (or little) they worked

Criticism continued. . .

Affirmative Action programs give preferential treatment to women and minorities

Individuals are not treated equally However, these programs are

indispensable for achieving social justice

http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v2n1/

homepage.html

Conclusion

Supports social programs that promote justice and equality

A for effort However, unrealistic in this day and

age

Questions

What are the benefits to the Common Good Approach?

Disadvantages? Will the Common

Good Approach cause more harm than good?