SST3771-ABED: 1.3.9 Me and We: The Common Good

"The first step in the evolution of ethics is a sense of solidarity with other human beings"

Albert Schweitzer

As you have learned, most people do not believe in a society that only supports individualism or collectivism. However, both ideologies have different ideas of how to achieve the common good of society.

A person who believes strongly in putting personal interests ahead of everything else can still contribute to the good of society. A person who believes strongly in supporting common goals is still an individual with his or her own interests, values and personality. Each citizen develops their own ideology or set of beliefs about how to best achieve the common good.

Analyze the perspective on the left.

What ideological perspective does it represent? Individualism, collectivism, or both?
How do you know?

The common good refers to the good of society as a whole. Most individuals and nations share some collective interests. People in more individualistic societies also contribute to the common good. For example, in Canada's democracy, we have political parties that hold different ideas on how to best achieve the common good.

© ADLC

This is a possible example of how individualism can promote the common good.

Read pages 87 to 89 your textbook, Perspectives on Ideology.

As you read, make notes about how individualism and collectivism are expressed in today's society.

Where are Canadians in terms of ideology?

Although we are all individuals with our own views, we are also members of Canadian society. Canada is a democracy, and Canadian citizens vote for the political party that best represents their own views. As a nation, we have agreed that this is the best approach to decision-making. We vote and then agree to follow the direction the elected governments take.

In Canada, many government actions are for the common good. Universal health care, public education, paved roads, national and provincial parks, various police forces, and countless social programs benefit society at large. Although not everyone has a child in school, visits a park, or receives social assistance, we have agreed that these programs make a better country for everyone. This ideology reflects modern liberal values, an ideology you will study later on in this course.

Study the cartoon on the right.
What is the cartoonist trying to say about government laws that prohibit smoking in public areas?

What do these pie graphs tell you about Canadian government practice and collectivism?

This graph shows that post-secondary education is funded mostly by the tuition fees of students, donations from past students, and research grants from corporations looking for a profit.

Does it show that post-secondary education is valued by Canadian society? Or does it show that, because it benefits individuals, they should pay for it themselves?

This graph shows that health care is funded mostly through taxpayers dollars.

Does it demonstrate a Canadian belief that good health care for everyone benefits all society? Or does it show that because individuals use health care, they should pay for their own healthcare?

This graph shows that utilities are almost half and half funded by the government and the private sector.

Does it show that some utilities must be financed by the government for the good of Canadian society? Or does it show that, because individuals use utilities, they should pay for them directly?