"Long before modern technology, the principle of the common good existed. It was not born with society itself, but later, with an awareness that if it were neglected, a society might collapse. Principles that promote social cohesion and well-being are found in most cultures. Early examples include the millennia-old Code of Hammurabi, which punished certain liars with a humiliating haircut, and ancient Biblical law, which required landowners to leave part of their harvest for orphans, widows, foreigners and poor people."
"Lack of commitment to the common good is evident in many of today's challenges - conflict, inequality, humanitarian crises and environmental degradation. And now, it clearly extends beyond the physical world, to the digital universe, in which people spend an ever-growing portion of their lives. It's a good time to take stock, 100 years after inventor John Logie Baird successfully transmitted human faces through television, paving the way for today's countless streams of online content, shaped by algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI)."
The principle of the common good emerged to prevent societal collapse and appears across cultures through laws and practices that promote social cohesion and support vulnerable people. Historical examples include the Code of Hammurabi and Biblical land laws requiring portions of harvest for orphans, widows, foreigners, and the poor. Human application struggles with boundary questions about who is included. Contemporary failures to commit to the common good appear in conflict, inequality, humanitarian crises, and environmental harm. The common good now extends into the digital realm as communication technologies, streaming, algorithms, and AI increasingly shape public life and demand socially focused design.
Read at Nature
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