ABSTRACT
The most plausible simple definition of ‘right’ is ‘productive of the common good’. Yet many men devote much effort and perhaps even their whole lives to the attainments of aims which are not social at all. The artist and the scientist are not servants of the community but servants of beauty and truth. No recent scientist has done more for mankind than Louis Pasteur. There are some non-social goods, such as health, which may nevertheless be promoted by State action. There seem to be instances in which the claims of fellow-members of associations give rise to indubitable duties and others in which their claims have no weight or a weight which would disturb the balance of the moral decision. The State may on occasion provide an example of that enjoyed co-operation and conscious trust and sympathy which is intrinsically good.
