The Common Good

Jan 1, 20231 min read

From the Editor

Welcome to the January issue of Humanistically Speaking and our brand new format. Drop me a line at and tell me what you think.

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Emails to the Editor

Jan 1, 20235 min read

The Common Good - Jan 23

Dear David... emails to the Editor

On the Future of Humanism and the Monarchy.

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Humanist Choir Festive Fun for Foodbank Funds

News

Jan 1, 20231 min read

The Common Good - Jan 23

Humanist Choir Festive Fun for Foodbank Funds

On 10th December, the Dorset Humanists 'Hawkridge Singers' sang seven festive-themed secular songs at an event in Bournemouth to help...

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Humanists UK to articulate humanist views on AI and other contemporary issues and challenges

News

Jan 1, 20231 min read

The Common Good - Jan 23

Humanists UK to articulate humanist views on AI and other contemporary issues and challenges

On 14th December 2022, Humanists UK published an article by Liam Whitton (image left), their Director of Communications and Development,...

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The Common Good - An Antidote to Self-Interest

Henri Ruff

Jan 1, 20236 min read

The Common Good - Jan 23

The Common Good - An Antidote to Self-Interest

This article is based on a talk by Henri Ruff for Dorset Humanists. Henri has tutored for the Open University Business School.

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Thoughts on the Humanists UK slogan: ‘Think for yourself, act for everyone’

Richard Norman

Jan 1, 20235 min read

The Common Good - Jan 23

Thoughts on the Humanists UK slogan: ‘Think for yourself, act for everyone’

By Richard Norman, Emeritus Professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of Kent. Richard is a Patron of Humanists UK and author of...

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Why the phrase 'the Common Good' made me wince

Lynda Tilley

Jan 1, 20236 min read

The Common Good - Jan 23

Why the phrase 'the Common Good' made me wince

Ten days of chaos in South Africa last year, left cities destroyed and citizens worked together for the common good, to rebuild the country

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Why I believe that the Good is on the side of the Left

Cath Sutherland

Jan 1, 20235 min read

The Common Good - Jan 23

Why I believe that the Good is on the side of the Left

Is 'the left' synonymous with 'the good'? The answer to this very tricky question depends, of course, on how you define 'the good'.

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Maggie Hall

Jan 1, 20235 min read

The Common Good - Jan 23

How do we keep the Commons Good?

'The commons' is a term meaning those things which are, or should be, available to everyone, particularly natural resources ....

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Anthony Lewis

Jan 1, 20238 min read

The Common Good - Jan 23

Money: The Root of all Good

Money connects all of us in a network of mutual trust and co-operation that drives human flourishing through delayed reciprocal altruism.

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Promoting the Common Good using punishment, reward, and leadership

Paul Ewans

Jan 1, 20234 min read

The Common Good - Jan 23

Promoting the Common Good using punishment, reward, and leadership

It is often only possible to promote the Common Good if we work together. But many of us are reluctant to cooperate.

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We can't help everyone, so how do we decide who to help?

Paul Ewans

Jan 1, 20232 min read

The Common Good - Jan 23

We can't help everyone, so how do we decide who to help?

There will always be people who need our help, but we cannot help everyone. Who then should we prioritise?

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Susan Bryson & Cathy Silman

Jan 1, 20238 min read

The Common Good - Jan 23

Immigration: A Positive Perspective

There will have to be sacrifices but if the prevailing view of most Britons changes from fear to openness.

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Immigration and the moral imperative to stop dangerous boat crossings

David Warden

Jan 1, 202310 min read

The Common Good - Jan 23

Immigration and the moral imperative to stop dangerous boat crossings

Identifying as a ‘Citizen of the World’ is idealistic but it can signify a sense of entitlement which renounces responsibilities.

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John Lennon and Why Borders Matter - Book Review

David Warden

Jan 1, 20235 min read

The Common Good - Jan 23

John Lennon and Why Borders Matter - Book Review

Why Borders Matter: Why Humanity Must Relearn the Art of Drawing Boundaries (2020) by Frank Furedi, Emeritus Professor of Sociology at...

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John Coss

Dec 31, 20224 min read

The Common Good - Jan 23

Humanists in Profile – Epicurus

Epicurus (341-270 BCE) was the founder of Epicureanism, one of the major schools of ancient Greek philosophy, and the closest to Humanism.

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Aaron agonises over whether he is a 'Citizen of the World'

Aaron the Humanist

Dec 31, 20226 min read

The Common Good - Jan 23

Aaron agonises over whether he is a 'Citizen of the World'

The Common Good' but I'd like to broaden this out to explore the concept of the 'Global Citizen', and how we all fit together as people.

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Alexander Williams

Dec 31, 20222 min read

The Common Good - Jan 23

Poet's Corner

By Alexander Williams Alexander is a writer, teacher and singer from Watford. This is the title poem of his whole collection 'Secular...

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