ABSTRACT
Exploring the nature of the common good will consists of five parts. First, the common good is introduced as T. H. Green's solution to a fundamental ethical problem, namely how to reconcile self-interest and benevolence. Reconciliation is forged by an idea of 'some sort of society' which can be described as a common good society. Green's understanding of Immaneul Kant's kingdom of ends in terms of the common good forms the second part. The third step focuses on Green's revision of Kant's kingdom of ends. The fourth part is the intertwining of the institutional and individual aspects of the common good society which are mutually supportive. The fifth part addresses itself to the question whether the present interpretation of common good in terms of an ideal of society can meet the criticism levelled at the idea of the common good. The relation of mutuality results from and is justified by Kant's categorical imperatives which presuppose an idea of universal rationality.
