The good society

This chapter discusses how considerations of the good, both the human good and the impersonal good, can inform accounts of distributive justice for modern political societies. Starting with the assumption that just political societies will aim to promote the good of their members, it argues that considerations about good human lives are integral to determining the content of justice. This chapter also argues that, while just political societies must promote the good of their members, a good society realizes goods beyond the good of justice. In particular, a good society supports impersonal goods and promotes fitting attitudes toward them. The point of justice is the human good, but a just society is perfected by its concern for the impersonal good.