What is the "common good"?

I asked Terry Mollner this question after his talk last week, and he answered, "It's whatever you want it to be." I could not help but feel skeptical. Aren't there tradeoffs? Isn't my definition of the "common good" different from your definition? What if I believe people are the most important priority and focusing on people means my focus on the environment goes to the backburner?

I told him I was skeptical that the movement he anticipates will actually be realized. He said, "What I am arguing is that people need to set priorities - this means it is possible to focus on social good while making a hefty profit." But I have been taught and have observed that people are self-seeking and lack the motivation to be concerned with the "common good."

This weekend, I came upon this article about Nicolas Berggruen, a billionaire who is now using his fortune for social ventures. Berggruen states: "Living in a grand environment to show myself and others that I have wealth has zero appeal," he says in an interview, standing in a hotel room in New York's Upper East Side. "Whatever I own is temporary, since we're only here for a short period of time. It's what we do and produce, it's our actions, that will last forever. That's real value."

Is this evidence that Terry may be right? I hope so...