CONSERVATIVE PERSPECTIVES - The Good That Markets Do A

03 2 Whatever the validity of the criticisms may to particular conditions of the common good be, the idea of the common good has been part of made by entrepreneurship, businesses, free the philosophical framework used to critique the exchange, competition, and dynamic trade depth of American conservatism’s commitment tend to be degraded by state interventions to free markets. [...] In all of What Is the Common Good? these scenarios, policies enacted in the name of The concept of the common good has been central the common good serve to constrain the opera- to Western political thinking from its beginning. [...] to post-Enlightenment conceptions of the state, Note that a particular characteristic of the especially as it relates to the idea of rights.9 political common good is that it is not the Notwithstanding the different meanings all-inclusive end for its members. [...] The very idea of the rule of law responsibility for realizing distinct aspects of is derived partly from the conclusion that it is a country’s common good? In particular, who reasonable and good to limit arbitrary power.16 should play the primary role in establishing the Alongside, however, the innate reasonable- economic conditions that individuals, families, ness of embracing rule of law and rej. [...] 03 7 institutions, the expectation is that the state can In the first place, the economic liberty that is and must pursue certain economic goals in ways central to markets creates a sphere of freedom that involve direct and indirect interventions for individuals and their families.