T he principle of the common good applies at many levels of human activity. Opponents of land mines, chemical weapons, pollution, and global warming take the principle of the common good seriously. They realize that the behaviors of some can have a powerfully negative impact on large portions of the human family, thus, for the common good of all they are willing to give of their time, energy, and resources. T he depletion of the ozone is a case, clear and to the point. If the principle of the common good had been more actively applied during the industrial revolution and the last 80 years of carbon monoxide-spewing automobiles, we wouldn't be pondering the potential flooding of our coastal cities.
Moral issues are often societal and even global in influence.
Therefore, we must include in our moral reflection the impact of individual behaviors upon the broader social body. They are interdependent. If one is neglected, the other is weakened as well. T he principle of the common good is not a static one. It is dynamic, always in need of application as situations change and life moves on.