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Common Good

Definition

The benefit or interests of all or most members within a community or society.

Analogy

Consider common good like sharing a pizza with friends. Even though everyone might have different favorite toppings, you agree on a combination that satisfies most people to ensure everyone gets a slice.

Related terms

Public Interest: The welfare or well-being of the general public.

Civic Virtue: The cultivation of habits important for the success of the community.

Social Responsibility: An ethical framework in which individuals are accountable for fulfilling their civic duty and actions must benefit the whole of society.

"Common Good" appears in:

Practice Questions (1)

  • Which Enlightenment thinker believed that the only legitimate source of political power is the consent of the governed, and that governments exist to promote the common good?


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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.