Patrick Riordan, a Senior Fellow in Political Philosophy at Campion Hall, Oxford, and a Jesuit priest, delves into the intersection of Catholic thought and liberal politics. He argues that embracing the common good can coexist with liberal ideals, contrary to some polarized views. The discussion explores St. Augustine's concepts of societal structures, the Church's role in advocating for human rights, and the relevance of Catholic principles in modern political and economic challenges. Riordan emphasizes dialogue across diverse beliefs to enrich democratic engagement.
49:50
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Bridging Disciplines
Patrick Riordan's book bridges Catholic thought and liberal political philosophy.
He addresses the neglect of "common good" in liberal discourse.
insights INSIGHT
Evolution of Common Good
The concept of "common good" has evolved from Aristotle to Catholic thought and modern philosophy.
Riordan emphasizes the need to separate ultimate common good (God) from political common goods.
insights INSIGHT
Defining Common Good
The common good is not a single entity but a set of conditions for human flourishing.
These conditions enable individuals and groups to achieve their fulfillment.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
On the Containment of Illiberal and Anti-Democratic Views
Gabriele Badano
Alasia Nuti
Alasia Nuti and Gabriele Badano's "Politicizing Political Liberalism" offers a normative framework for liberal democratic self-defense. The book tackles the challenge of countering illiberal and anti-democratic views while upholding liberal values. It examines the roles of various actors, including citizens, political parties, and municipalities, in this process. The authors build upon John Rawls's concept of political liberalism, addressing the need to contain unreasonable views that reject the principles of freedom and equality for all. The book provides insightful solutions to complex issues within political liberalism, offering a nuanced approach to real-world political challenges.
A deeply considered examination of the “common good” reconciling Catholic Social Thought with secular politics and philosophy.
The Second Vatican Council invites dialogue about the common good as the set of economic, political, legal, and cultural conditions for human flourishing, whether as individuals or as communities. However, some contemporary Catholic authors jeopardize this dialogue by polarizing liberalism and the common good, interpreting the commitment to individual liberty as incompatible with commitment to the common good.
Human Dignity and Liberal Politics: Catholic Possibilities for the Common Good (Georgetown UP, 2023) clarifies the meaning of the common good through the three lenses of Aristotelian practical philosophy, twentieth-century Catholic Social Thought, and political liberalism. It makes the case that embracing the common good does not entail a rejection of liberalism, but that a commitment to liberal politics is compatible with faithful adherence to the Catholic tradition. The book argues that liberal political philosophy is not only compatible with Catholic Social Teaching but may also be the most appropriate framework for communicating the richness of the Church’s tradition today. Furthermore, accepting political liberalism can facilitate collaboration in political life between those who hold different worldviews and foster an enriched discussion of democracy, human rights, and religious liberty.
Students and scholars of Christian ethics and political philosophy will benefit from this response to the challenges of dialogue about the “common good” in the context of the resurgence of this topic.
Sam Young is a recent PhD graduate from Cardiff University, specialising in the theological history of European social Catholic movements active during the crisis years of the 1920s and 1930s.
New Books in Political Science 
