Searching for the common good

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/08/2020 (2037 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A family enjoys lunch at a picnic table under a shelter near the edge of the park. Beside them, in the open field, a group of young men and women engage in a high-spirited game of Frisbee. On the adjacent path, an older couple strolls through a colourful and well-kept garden.

It’s a classic scene of a city park, one you likely know well, and perhaps the best visual representation of an abstract ethical concept.

These groups co-existing peacefully in an area maintained by all demonstrates the power of “the common good.” The park-goers have properly thrown away their garbage, admired the flowers from a safe distance, and were conscious enough to not blare their personal music to a level that would disturb those around them.

With these small acts of respect for their shared space, they’re contributing to the common good. They make little sacrifices, such as walking a bit farther to the garbage can, so that others (and the earth) can benefit. Examples of the common good far exceed a nice day at the park. Big picture examples are accessible health-care systems, non-discriminatory and effective public safety mechanisms, fair political systems, and a healthy natural environment.
These are concepts many strive toward — systems that benefit each member of society.

Unfortunately, they are often thwarted by differences in values, individualistic thinking and disparity in the burdens each person must shoulder.

A shift toward the big-picture common good requires more than teaching children to put their garbage in the trash. It requires continued education on ethics and serious debates exploring the reasons for it and the benefits reaped from it. These are the types of discussions students get in LIFT, a free program on ethical decision-making delivered by the Better Business Bureau Foundation.

“The common good” is one of five approaches to ethical decision-making students learn about throughout the program. Since its launch in 2017, LIFT has taken off, expanding through schools, community groups, businesses and post-secondary programs. The program can be adapted to any age group. It teaches people how to retrain their brain to think through the societal impacts of their choices before they make them. And it gives them the incentive to make decisions that do contribute to the common good.

With more and more people learning through LIFT, more social systems can look and feel a little more like that peaceful day in the park. There are ways to think about a decision before you make it that will help you and those around you. Register for a free program, LIFT, that teaches these methods for ethical decision-making: https://bbblift.eventbrite.ca