How Do You Use Common Good To Resolve Ethical Dilemmas?
Philosophers have long debated how ethical dilemmas should be approached. They proposed many axioms or imperatives to address ethical dilemmas. One such imperative, or principle, is known as “The Common Good.” The Common Good is an ideal derived from utilitarianism–the philosophy that the moral worth of an action is measured by its usefulness, or utility, to the greatest number of people. So the Common Good is that which is good for all. But what is “good”? And who makes up “all”? To approach ethical dilemmas from this perspective and to act on this principle, those questions must first be answered. On a piece of paper, write down the ethical dilemma you wish to address. Now, define your population. In theory, the Common Good refers to the greatest good for the greatest number of people; however, you should consider the population that is most directly affected by the ethical dilemma. Name this group and write the targeted population down on a piece of paper under the heading “All.” N
