released 7/2/2025

In this 2018 lecture, moral philosopher Oliver O’Donovan examines whether and to what extent there might be the possibility of a unifying Christian perspective on political doctrine or policy. After a brief history and definition of the idea of the common good, O’Donovan explores several ways in which a traditional Christian conception of the common good might positively shape political discourse. Providing some protection against two polar distortions of the idea (which O’Donovan describes as “to each his own” and “collectivist totalitarianism”), the Christian understanding of the common good opens our imaginations to a higher view of community and points us toward certain paradigms of human flourishing.

This lecture is provided courtesy of Baylor University’s Institute for Studies of Religion. A video of this lecture, which includes the question and answer session following the talk, is available here.

59 minutes

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