The Common Good

The Common Good

by Elizabeth Rauscher

Open Ended

In March 2020, early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Eric Ward, a civil rights strategist and director of the Western States Center, wrote:

The truth of our interconnectedness has never been more apparent.

How would you define the term interconnected?

How have you experienced the “truth of our interconnectedness” over the past year?

​Headlines

• ​On the following tab is a link to NPR. (Open a new tab and keep it open)

• ​Look at the headlines for today.

Home

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Open Ended

Select and headline and then answer this question:

How do the stories in the news reflect our interconnectedness? 

​Interconnectedness

​Some philosophers have proposed that since individuals’ well-beings are often interconnected, we should focus on finding collective solutions to problems in society.

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This “common good approach” is found in multiple philosophical traditions around the world

​From Harvard political philosopher Michael Sandel:

​The common good is about how we live together in community. It’s about the ethical ideals we strive for together, the benefits and burdens we share, the sacrifices we make for one another. It’s about the lessons we learn from one another about how to live a good and decent life.1

​From the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University:

​Appeals to the common good urge us to view ourselves as members of the same community, reflecting on broad questions concerning the kind of society we want to become and how we are to achieve that society. While respecting and valuing the freedom of individuals to pursue their own goals, the common-good approach challenges us also to recognize and further those goals we share in common.

​Common Good

​At your table grab a piece of construction paper and create your definition of common good. You can use both writing and illustration as part of your definition.

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10 min.

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​Then share with your table.

​Ways to Critically Think

Why does this issue matter to me?

Why does this issue matter to my community?

Why does this issue matter to the world?

​Then, as Homework, Answer

​What actions can I take to help others related to this issue?

What actions can other individuals in my community take?

What actions can leaders or politicians take

(in the general sense - no name calling!)?

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