Moral Sentiments, Social Choice and the Commons

Abstract

This chapter examines some relevant ethical elements behind the theme of the commons. It aims at raising some questions about what has been, in my opinion, ignored in the debate on the commons so far: the role of moral sentiments. The chapter examines Jean Tirole’s (Economics for the common good. Princeton University Press, Princeton, 2017) Economics for the Common Good book and explores how moral sentiments are pivotal to better understanding social choice and collective action challenges. To conclude, I focus on Fratelli Tutti, discussing how social love can be part of a new ethical structure of the commons.