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Společné dobro - realita, nebo fikce?

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  • Marek Loužek

Abstract

In spite of the widespread use of the term "the common good", there was a remarkable dissension among the ancient and medieval thinkers about its specific content. Sometimes, the common good was regarded as the good of the individuals involved or as the good of the community as a whole. As soon as political philosophy started to be based on more individualist foundations, the common good, as a concept, retreated into the shadow. The common good should have two properties: it is good and, moreover, it is common. However, good is not an inner quality per se but it is the subjective judgement of man. It depends on our judgement whether we consider an action or a situation to be good or bad. The basic characteristic of every judgement is its subjectivity. Subjectivity in the concept of good is the main problem of the common good. The common good can only be common, if it is a goal, which is shared by all the reasonable players inside the political community. If the common good were to be the goal regulating political considerations and the source of loyalty to the community, it would have to be shared by everyone. However, that is extremely difficult to guarantee in practice. There is no neutral voting mechanism that would decide on what the common good is. The common good is too vague a concept to be useful in political theory and in practical politics. The public interest must be judged particularly and locally, always with regard to the specific times and places. That which forms a general interest or "the common good" does not stem from philosophical theory but from practice. Although the common good can be useful in political as well as church rhetoric, it has little or no scientific meaning.

Suggested Citation

  • Marek Loužek, 2012. "Společné dobro - realita, nebo fikce?," E-LOGOS, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2012(1), pages 1-22.
    • Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlelg:v:2012:y:2012:i:1:id:324:p:1-22
    DOI: 10.18267/j.e-logos.324
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. J. Brian Benestad, 1986. "Henry George and the Catholic Views of Morality and the Common Good, II," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(1), pages 115-123, January.
    2. Joseph Carcello, 2009. "Governance and the Common Good," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 89(1), pages 11-18, May.
    3. Evensky,Jerry, 2007. "Adam Smith's Moral Philosophy," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521703864.
    4. Smith, Thomas W., 1999. "Aristotle on the Conditions for and Limits of the Common Good," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 93(3), pages 625-636, September.
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