13 Comments
User's avatar
Tom Hanratty's avatar

We all miss a President who speaks in complete sentences and inspires us to be our "best angles." Thanks for all the ways of looking at the human condition, justice, and the common good.

From the Shelves's avatar

We need men like him now more than ever.

Thank you so much, Tom.

Ignatian Maronite's avatar

Beautiful article. Also, great timing, because this question about the common good and human sacrifice ties into my article on the offering of suffering.

From the Shelves's avatar

Having just returned from your piece, I agree: the human person is subordinated to God and must sacrifice those lesser goods in order to attain those greater goods.

Moreover, we must never forget that the good of the community is always greater than that of the individual. In this way the human person, through sincere sacrifice, can ensure the greater good of the community is preserved. And while this comes at a significant expense, he or she can find peace in knowing that the good reward awaits them in the world to come.

Michael Lindle's avatar

one of my favorite Carravaggio pieces

drewski's avatar

đŸ”¥đŸ”¥đŸ”¥

From the Shelves's avatar

Thank you good sir.

Patrick Evans's avatar

Exactly right

From the Shelves's avatar

Thank you good sir!

Patrick Evans's avatar

You’re welcome.

Chuck Durang's avatar

Remarkable in its depth. I'm going to have to read it several more times...

From the Shelves's avatar

Thank you, Chuck. This is a topic I plan on building upon in a later work--the common good is such a monumental topic that so many of the greatest thinkers have written about.

The 19th Century saw the rise of Communism, the 20th saw the rise of Authoritarianism, and today, we're seeing the rise of Automation and Antihumanism. The public deserves to know what's behind these ideas, and the human person must have its dignity established.

Thank you again for your thoughtful comment.

The Dissident Voice's avatar

Excellent and thought-provoking article, Thomas!

I largely agree. Better communities are those that respect and protect the rights and inherent dignity of individual persons. When systems — whether political, technological, or economic — begin treating people as data points, labor units, or obstacles to efficiency, they erode the very foundation that makes a society worth preserving. Establishing and defending the dignity of the human person seems essential, especially in an age of rapid automation.