What is civility and why must we cultivate it?

Independent Newsmedia/Chris Williams

This is part two of a five-part series of opinions on civil discourse written by subject-matter experts in Arizona for Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA’s Civility Learning Lab.

For more information, to read opinions on a variety of issues and to find a list of Arizona newspapers that accept opinion submissions, visit civilitylearninglab.org.

Coming Feb 2: Stop screaming! The more you listen, the more you’re heard by Nadine Arroyo Rodriguez, Mesa Community College

Opinion

Now is the time to teach civil discourse

OPINION — In the present milieu where political polarization seems pervasive, the question of whether and why we should practice civility is met with incredulity. It’s asked: “Why be civil with those who have abhorrent views and values?”

I want to explore the relationship or the importance of what I call the virtue of civility to our pluralistic liberal democratic order.

First, I want to be clear that there’s a difference between civility, the moral virtue, and the norms of etiquette or politeness. Not to say that there isn’t often an overlap in behaviors between the two, but they are radically different in their nature.

Being polite has to do with behaving in certain ways in certain contexts. Sometimes the norms of politeness can seem silly and seem to reinforce class structures. For many, the norms around etiquette can seem like a holdover from the Victorian age. I think politeness is important, I think there’s a place for rules of behavior, not cutting in line, not shouting at people, not flipping people off and so on.

Some of the rules are substantive and some are superficial and arbitrary. But generally, I think being polite is a kind of social lubricant that makes our lives better. Politeness is just about behaving in the ways dictated by these social norms.

True civility, the virtue of civility, on the other hand, is a disposition or a stable character trait that one requires development. It is a character trait or a disposition to treat others with respect and dignity. Civility comes from the Latin Civilis, which relates to status conduct and character befitting a citizen.

The virtue of civility is more than behaving a certain way, it is an attitude toward one’s life or relationship to others in one’s community — namely respect for their dignity. Civility is necessary for democracy since it presupposes that other people’s views and values are worth paying attention to or listening to.

Democracy is founded on the idea of differing beliefs about what’s good, about public welfare. Democracy requires that we listen to and argue with those we disagree with. It’s antithetical to democracy to silence views that we disagree with.

That’s where civility comes in. It doesn’t mean that we have to agree with those other views, it doesn’t mean that we can’t vigorously argue with them about our views, but it does mean that we have to respect other citizens and listen to their views. It requires a kind of respect for the dignity of others.

I think democracy also requires that we practice openness to ideas, a curiosity about others’ views and a recognition that we might be wrong or intellectual humility. Respect for others necessitates an openness to at least listen to their points of view and ideas.

If we want our democracy to flourish, we need to cultivate the virtue of civility.

Joan McGregor is director of the Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics at Arizona State University. She wrote this for Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.