Common Good

[Hero - III]

Herman Daly and John Cobb are heroes. They end their massive book, For the Common Good, with this line: “Clearly the important question then becomes whether our nation is going to continue in its efforts to increase total output or whether we are going to redirect our focus towards the enhancement of sustainable economic welfare” (507).

They are not heroes because they coauthored a 500 page book.

They are not heroes because they have PhDs, teach in prestigious institutions, and inspire multitudes of young people.

They are not heroes solely because they are asking hard questions about economic sustainability and justice.

They are heroes because they hold a fundamental belief of the heroic paradigm: the Common Good. Villains believe in common desires, common selfishness, common corruption, and common rationalization. Heroes, on the other hand, deeply believe and therefore direct their lives, their vocations (and occupations), and their resources toward a more fundamental commonality known as the Common Good.

People like us spend our lives doing the same. It’s a calling. It’s a mission. It’s ministry.