PO102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Polluter Pays Principle, Humanitarian Intervention, Informed Consent
Document Summary
Common good benefits all members of the political community. A topic that seems uncontroversial because it is promoting the good of the entire population within society yet in practice this can be brought with conflict because of differing views within a society. What may be good for the majority of the community may not be good for a few individuals or vice versa. Some people argue the individualist perspective that as states we are all trying to promote our own good and that if everyone does this it would be best. However there are others who argue we are social beings who flourish through positive interactions with each other. Modern political communities are often so diverse that finding the common good that benefits everyone is nearly impossible. Even if all people in the society value certain ideals such as freedom and order, different members may value them differently and be willing to give up different things to achieve them.
