Chapter 3.3 – The threefold good

Excerpt from the book »Gradido – Natural Economy of Life« 

The manifold interactions of natural beings with each other serve the good of the individual (the bee drinks nectar), the good of the community (the bee colony obtains honey supplies) and the good of the big scheme of things (maintenance of the eco-system). We call this the threefold good.

The threefold good of the whole is the decisive criterion in the Natural Economy of Life. When one of the three aspects is neglected, the whole picture gets out of balance. When the good of the individual is lacking, meaning no personal interest exists, why should we commit ourselves? When the good of the community is lacking, the community will collapse. And when the good of the big scheme of things is at issue, the basis of our existence is at risk.

I would like to invite you to make an experiment. Please select a few events of the day, both personal and political. Now ask yourself about each event:

1. Does it contribute to my personal good? Does it contribute to the personal good of the individuals involved?
2. Does it contribute to the good of the family, the region, the country etc.?
3. Does it contribute to the good of all people, nature and the environment?

What did you find out from this little exercise? Did the majority of your events serve the threefold good? If not, what could be improved?

It is best to examine the  threefold good as often as possible. With everything you encounter ask yourself: »Does it serve the good of the individual, the good of the community and the good of the big scheme of things?« If you ask yourself these three questions about all the things you are confronted with, you will sharpen your judgement of what serves life and what harms it. The threefold good will develop into a permanent part of your life and the three questions will become a much-loved habit that you wouldn’t want to do without. In the next sections we have plenty of opportunities to practise this.