THE FRAGILITY OF CIVILITY: VIRTUE, CIVIL SOCIETY,AND TRAGIC BREAKDOWNS OF CIVILITY
THE FRAGILITY OF CIVILITY: VIRTUE, CIVIL SOCIETY,AND TRAGIC BREAKDOWNS OF CIVILITY

Summary/Abstract: This paper explores civility as a virtue for individuals within the sphere of civil society. Civil society is conceived as consisting of voluntary associations regulated by persuasion, praise, and shame. The virtue of civility is a key value for members of the associations of civil society. The paper considers circumstances in which institutions of civil society breakdown and in which unscrupulous and un-civil operators take advantage of more civil members. While admitting that civility is a fragile virtue, the paper concludes that best solution to threats to civility is to avoid cynicism and to cultivate common-sense moral behavior that models civility.

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