February 2007
“Every
community is an association of some kind and every community is established
with a view to some good; for everyone always acts in order to obtain that
which they think good. But, if all communities aim at some good, the state or
political community, which is the highest of all, and which embraces all the
rest, aims at good in a greater degree than any other, and at the highest
good.” -Aristotle
What Aristotle so insightfully recognized
was the need for any community to work together for the greater good of all
its members. Jeremy Bentham, in the 18th century, would identify
it as working for the greatest good for the greatest number. It calls upon
some of us at different times to be willing to think of the community before
we think of ourselves. Of course, this sacrifice should not fall upon any one
person or group disproportionately; however, when it does fall upon us, we
must resist the temptation to rationalize away our responsibility to our
colleagues.
I believe this principle to be true and necessary. Without it, a community
does not exist. It is a community in name only and powerless to aid its
members when threatened by a more powerful entity or institution. Our
association has done much good for its members. That good usually comes at
those times when a member feels most vulnerable and alone. We are only able
to function in that role if our commitment to each other remains strong, and
we remain unified. Let us continue to do so and put the greater good before
all other considerations.