1. The Common Good Approach Teri Wuest, Katie Kuen, Rebecca Meixner Th, 5:30 Ethical Theories Presentation April 9, 2009

2. Define Common Good  Individuals own good is parallel with the good of the community, members are bound by the pursuit of common values/goals

3. http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publica tions/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

4. Aristotle 384 BC – 322 BC

5. Traditional point of view o Even 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/9780 5218/02055/sample/97805218020 55ws.pdf

6.  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.

7. 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?

8. John Rawls 1920-2002

9. http://74.125.95.132/search?q=ca che:dxQO_P0qSAwJ:libertyunboun d.com/archive/2003_02/narveson- rawls.html+john+rawls+on+the+c ommon+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”

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

11. 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?

12. 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

13. 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/publica tions/iie/v2n1/homepage.html

14. Conclusion  Supports social programs that promote justice and equality  A for effort  However, unrealistic in this day and age

15. Questions  What are the benefits to the Common Good Approach?  Disadvantages?  Will the Common Good Approach cause more harm than good?