The Public Good

Abstract

This chapter applies Aristotle’s work on politics to contribute to debate on a long-standing topic of interest in the study of organizations, society and politics, namely the notion of the public good (koinōn sumpheron, public good, common good and public interest are treated as synonymous here). This is an interdisciplinary theme and it links to our understanding of ethical life, since the good citizen and state are defined relationally for Aristotle. This chapter begins with a theoretical account of public good and discusses the question of what constitutes good governance. This is informed by three case studies from British Politics: the Profumo affair, which precipitated Prime Minister Harold MacMillan’s resignation and succession by Alec Douglas-Home; the legacy of Tony Blair’s ‘New Labour’ government; and the idea of ‘big society’ associated with Prime Minister David Cameron.