Reconciling Libertarianism and Concern for the “Common Good”

The idea of “the common good” is increasingly being invoked by conservatives such as Fox News’ Tucker Carlson to call for a bigger and more interventionist government. The assumption is that classical liberal values have failed to create the conditions that allow people to flourish. In theory and in practice, these claims could not be further from the truth. This presentation will provide an overview of libertarianism and explain how—contrary to popular belief—libertarian principles are easy to reconcile with a Catholic understanding of the common good.