In the essay, Alasdair MacIntyre (129-130) describes virtues, such as independent rational thinking and freedom of expression, which leads to deliberation and common mind, acknowledgement of dependency of the members of community on each other, and the virtue of just generosity, according to which, community should help the needy and dependent members. MacIntyre (131) argues that the modern nation-state and family cannot provide conditions, necessary to practice these virtues.
Size of the modern nation-state is enormous and prevents the creation of shared decision-making and common mind through rational deliberation of all the members of the society. Instead, political processes occur through the compromise and bargaining of various actors, who have distinct political and economic interests. The bargaining power of these actors is determined by financial resources that are used to acquire political influence. The nation-state creates public goods, such as national security, but its significance notwithstanding, these shared public goods are not to be mixed up with the common goods and virtues of a nationwide community. Citizens of nation-state do not constitute a community per se, because the ties between citizens are not as strong, as those of the members of a community. According to MacIntyre (132), in modern states the existence of such communities is not possible. Citizens of modern states do not pursue a common good and do not share responsibilities for needy and dependent people, - the aspect that characterizes a community, which practices virtues of acknowledged dependence.
MacIntyre (134-135) claims that a modern family neither provides a necessary context for the achievement of the common good. The cause of it is the dependency of family on the development of the local community and accomplishment of its common goods. Family is not a self-sufficient institution and cannot achieve much without favorable social environment. Even though the relationships in a family demonstrate a practice of the virtue of acknowledged dependence, for instance, parents, nurturing their children or adults, supporting their elderly parents, - a family is a small social unit and cannot achieve common goods.
Work Cited
MacIntyre, Alasdair C. “The Political and Social Structures of the Common Good”. Dependent Rational Animals: Why Human Beings Need the Virtues. Chicago and La Salle: Open Court, 1999. 129-147. Print.
