Is There a Constitutional Common Good?

(Excerpt) Identifying and pursuing some widely shared idea of the common good seems central to a sustainable constitutional order. This may seem especially true in an era of deep political division. The problem, though, is that such political division may indeed heighten the need for recognizing and promoting a shared constitutional common good, while, at the same time, preventing such an identification and pursuit of any such common good. What is needed is a way to disrupt this vicious circle.

This Article is an illustration of the operation of this vicious circle and, more optimistically, a proffering of the means by which this vicious circle can ultimately be disrupted. To some degree, increased attention to familiar basic virtues can perform the vital constructive role.