Is There a Constitutional Common Good?

Abstract

Identifying and pursuing some widely shared idea of the common good seems central to a sustainable constitutional order. This may seem especially true in an era of deep political division. The problem, though, is that such political division may indeed heighten the need for recognizing and promoting a shared constitutional common good, while at the same time preventing just such an identification and pursuit of any such common good. What is needed is a way to disrupt this vicious circle. Herein, we illustrate the operation of this vicious circle. We conclude, however, more optimistically, that this vicious circle can ultimately be disrupted. To some degree, increased attention to familiar basic virtues can perform this vital constructive role.

Keywords: common good, natural law, conservatism, libertarianism, progressivism, constitution, virtues

JEL Classification: K10, K40