Common Good: An Introduction to Personalism

Our traditional ways of thinking about politics and society are becoming obsolete. We need some new points of reference in order to re-imagine the possible character, growth, and functioning of our private and common life. Such re-imagination would imply doing away with every-man-for-himself individualism as well as consumption-makes-me-happy materialism and the-state-will-take-care-of-it passivity.

There is an alternative: Personalism is a forgotten, yet golden perspective on humanity that seeks to describe what a human being is and to then draw the social consequences. Personalism builds upon the thinking of Martin Buber and Emmanuel Levinas, among others, and has been a source of inspiration for Martin Luther King, Desmond Tutu, and other important personalities in recent history.

According to personalism, humans are relational and engaged and possess dignity. The person and the relationship amongst persons are the universal point of departure: Human beings have inherent dignity, and good relationships amongst humans are crucial for the good, engaged life and for a good society.

Personalism has been greatly neglected in Western political thought. In this book, Jonas Norgaard Mortensen attempts to introduce personalism while simultaneously demonstrating its historical origins, acquainting the reader with its thinkers and those who have practiced it, and showing that personalism has a highly relevant contribution to make in the debate about today's social and political developments.

”In his book Norgaard Mortensen gives a convincing introduction to this
current of thought, and takes a step forward in revealing it´s importance in
the public sector.
Prof. Mortensen’s current work is an accurate and non-technical account
of the main characteristics present in the life and work of many important
authors that have put the human person in the forefront of their intellectual
reflection and praxis.”
Jorge Olaechea Catter, director, Vida Y Espiritualiddad, Lima, Peru

”Jonas Norgaard Mortensen’s work will undoubtedly satisfy the expectations
of a number of readers who were left disappointed by specialist theses,
available to a narrow range of experts. The publication is attractive because
it can serve as a reference book, enabling people to acquaint themselves with
the basic assumptions of the personalistic philosophy and its application in
the creation of common good.”
Krzysztof Guzowski, professor, John Paul II Catholic University
of Lublin (KUL), Lublin, Poland

”This is a very good book and Jonas have done us all a great service in writing
it.”
Randall Auxier, professor, Southern Illinois University, editor of
the journal The Personalist Forum (renamed The Pluralist in 2005), USA

”I am both shocked and moved to find that personalism, the existence of
which I was unaware of until now, seems to be the common thread that runs
through all of my passionate commitments, present and past, as far back as I
can remember. The book hits the exact spot where my heart beats, my tears
flow, and my courage to work for change is rekindled.“
Karen Lumholt, journalist, author
and director of think tank Cura, Denmark

”An extremely well-written introduction to personalism, a virtually
unknown philosophical and political current that holds great inspiration
for our way of building and leading communities. A break with an often
stereotypical polarization of individual over against community, by looking
at relationships as what connects each of us with others. In the family, the
workplace, and in the world. Do we build up or do we tear down? We face
this choice every day in our communication, behavior, and management.”
Thomas Johansen, director, partner and head consultant
in the consultancy MacMann Berg

”How desperately we need the view of humans that permeates personalism
and the book The Common Good. It is a holistic view of humans, it is about
respect for values and social relations, and it is about the belief that we, in
a community, can change the world and our own existence. Personalism is
fundamentally about becoming responsible: our ability to take responsibility—
and to share it.
The book dusts off an old theory and demonstrates its vast relevance in our
current age and world. It does so by involving brand new knowledge about
social relationships from surveys and theories in the human and social
sciences. The book will therefore be of value to anyone working in the social
sector.”
Per Schultz-Jørgensen, Professor of Psychology,
Danish School of Education

”The notion that all humans are dignified, relational, and engaged is a
subcurrent of my entire work with young people in boarding schools. In
conversations, dialogue, and behavior, this view of humans comes to the
surface and gives content and body to the claim that “All young people wish
to succeed”. The book The Common Good should be read by anybody working
with children and young people.”
Jan Dufke, Headmaster, Skovbo Boarding School