The Person and the Common Good

Although this text stems from another context - the eve of WW II, as the author states - it remains relevant.The good: this book gives you a sound reflection on the subtle relation between individual human beings and society, based on the notion 'person'.The bad: for some, the reference to Thomistic philosophy in the first part of the book might be a hindrance to read through to the end. Because of its context, the book also does not take into account current religious diversity.Conclusion: read this book if you are looking for a starting point for your own critical reflections on current Western society. Personalism still has a lot to say about that. Do look for other readings too (evolutionary psychology, e.g.), but take a look at this one. You won't regret it, I'm sure.

Jacques Maritain, the French Catholic Thomist whose concept of human rights made him the architect of the UN's 1948 Declaration on Human Rights, is the author of this startlingly lucid philosophy of human nature treatise. Based on the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas, this razor thin (about 100 pages) paperback packs an extraordinary amount of wisdom into a very short space. Maritain's useful distinction between the individual (who acts in isolation from society) and the person (whose dependence on community shapes the common good) is the jumping-off point here. A professor once told me that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. read Maritain in jail. You'll understand why if you read this book. While much of Maritain's writings are unclear, this little treatise is an outburst of pure genius, reminding the reader that Maritain was a very good philosopher in addition to an effective political advisor to the United Nations its early years.

Challenging read, but an excellent discussing for Christians interested in their duty to God and to their community.

A modern French philosopher, Maritain uses his Catholic background to make progress in the field of ethics. Contrary to Kantian Duty Ethics or Mill's Utilitarianism, Maritain makes strives by contrasting two aspects of humanity: individualism and personalism. According to Maritain, if all actions sought the good of one's "personal" side, rather than promoting his/her "individual" side, it would support the common good. Examinig both aspects of faith and reason, JM's essay is a triumph of humanity and an inspiration to modern and ethical philosophers.

The book arrived on time and the quality was good. Thanks.