The Common Good

The idea of the common good was borrowed by the Fathers of the early Catholic Church from the rich philosophical traditions of ancient Greece and Rome. It has been a fundamental part of Catholic thinking about social, political, and economic life throughout the Catholic intellectual tradition, from Augustine and Aquinas to modern Catholic social thought in the encyclicals of popes in recent centuries. Yet this history has been rooted in the traditions of philosophy and theology. With the rise of the social sciences in the nineteenth century as distinct disciplines no longer limited to the methods of their philosophical origins, humanity has learned a great deal more about the human condition. Empirical Foundations of the Common Good asks two questions: what have the social sciences learned about the common good? how might theology alter its understanding of the common good in light of that insight? In this volume, six social scientists, with backgrounds in economics, political science, sociology, and policy analysis, speak about what their disciplines have to contribute to discussions within Catholic social thought about the common good. Two theologians then respond by examining the insights of social science and exploring how Catholic social thought can integrate social scientific insights into its understanding of the common good. This volume's interplay of social scientific and religious views is a unique contribution to contemporary discussion of what constitutes "the common good."

The passing of the Patriot Act in 2001 brought the tension between individual citizen's rights and governmental control to the forefront of American political discourse. It seems that the state, by claiming that they are increasing our "collective security," is in actuality, operating against the common good. More than anything else, recent events highlight the need for texts such as For the Common Good. This book is the culmination of research that investigated such topics as race, class, gender and sexuality, violence and victimization, prostitution, employee drug testing, hate speech legislation, women processed by the criminal justice system, the war on drugs, and the war on crime. All the pieces come from a critical perspective, and some of them are written from a Marxian perspective. All of the papers on the volume rely, at least tacitly, on the notions that reality is constructed, deviance is created by the normative order, and that the power that some groups have over that of others lies at the heart of societal social control. A key point of strength in this anthology is the methodological nature of the papers included. Most of the pieces are based on original research using various methodologies. Several theoretical pieces--such as Bruce Arrigo's Law, Crime, and Social Control: Making Sense of Conflict, Radical, and Postmodern Criminology and Andrew Taslitz's The Jury and the Common Good: Synthesizing the Insights of Modern and Postmodern Legal Theories--are included, ensuring a more balanced approach. The cross-disciplinary nature of the work included here is a further advantage of this text. The papers in For the Common Good include works by professionals from the fields of sociology, criminology, criminal justice, public policy studies, psychology, and law. And because nothing is as separate as two mounds of expertise, efforts to bridge disciplinary gaps are critical. Finally, given our volatile political times, where personal rights and freedoms are weighed against national security and found wanting on nearly a daily basis, a rearticulation and further emphasis on a critical examination of law and social control appears urgent. Editors Miller and Browning seek to respond to this need.

The future of America, in many ways, depends upon an understanding of the proper role of religion in our shared life as a republic. Discussions and debates on the topic have too often generated noise, platitudes, stereotypes, name-calling, and the distortion of vitally important issues, instead of constructive conversation among citizens--until now. Of all the voices commenting about American religion today, none is more credible or better known than that of historian Martin E. Marty. A respected scholar, author, editor, and media commentator, he has-perhaps better than anyone else in the field-a deep grasp on the complex issues surrounding public religion.

Eleven essays by Lutherans expressing their reaction to the U.S. Catholic Bishops' Pastoral letter on Catholic social teaching and the U.S. economy, Economic justice for all.

In Labor, Solidarity and the Common Good, edited by S.A. Cortright, five scholars bring analyses of the subjective dimension of human work to bear on issues at the root of managerial practice. Because the authors view work as a human and humanizing activity, the essays variously demonstrate how reflection on the human ends of work points to forms of solidarity that empower enterprises to promote the good of their members and the wider community. A general introduction, "Human Work: Hinge of the Social Question," traces the essays' roots in Catholic social thought and situates them in relation to contemporary social ethics. Each essay is complemented by a response that assesses weaknesses in the argument and points to further research and reflection. James B. Murphy (Government, Dartmouth College) examines "The Quest for a Balanced Appraisal of Work," looking both to the evolution of Catholic social teaching and to the requirements of a humane economy. James Gordley (Law, University of California, Berkeley) outlines a doctrine of contracts in "Labor and Commutative Justice," explaining present trends in the courts' decision-making and showing how the courts' ad hoc reasoning can be reduced to consistent jurisprudence. Thomas Cavanaugh (Social Ethics, University of San Francisco) examines a theory of property calculated to promote community in "Aquinas's Account of the Ineradicably Social Nature of Private Property." Michael Naughton (Management, University of St. Thomas) shows in practical detail how and why the ideal of the just wage is within the reach of contemporary strategic management in "Managers as Distributors of Justice." J. Michael Stebbins (Director of the Gonzaga Institute of Ethics, Gonzaga University) explores "The Meaning of Solidarity" through everyday patterns of economic and social cooperation.