Civic Virtues

Is there no virtue among us? If there be

not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks, no form of government,

can render us secure. To suppose that any

form of government will secure liberty or

happinesswithout any virtue in

the people is a chimerical idea.James Madison

• Perseverance• Courage• Responsibility• Initiative• Integrity• Respect• Justice• Moderation

Civitas – Latin for ‘civilized

Virtus – Latin for ‘moral’ or ‘good’

Roots of Civic Roots of Civic VirtueVirtue

Ancient philosophers held civic Ancient philosophers held civic virtue as the single greatest virtue as the single greatest

determinant of the success of determinant of the success of democratic governments.democratic governments.

What is Civic Virtue?What is Civic Virtue? The willingness to do one's part The willingness to do one's part

in supporting the public good. in supporting the public good.

The willingness to do one’s part The willingness to do one’s part to combat corruption.to combat corruption.

What is corruption?What is corruption? The use of one’s position, power, The use of one’s position, power,

knowledge, and/or influence to knowledge, and/or influence to promote one’s individual desires promote one’s individual desires over the good of the public good. over the good of the public good.

In order for corruption to exist the In order for corruption to exist the following must also exist:following must also exist:

The bias/corruption must be intentionalThe bias/corruption must be intentional An advantage must be gained for the An advantage must be gained for the

individual who has violated the public goodindividual who has violated the public good

Role of American Civic Role of American Civic VirtuesVirtues The civic virtues of the citizens of The civic virtues of the citizens of

The United States share a The United States share a common purpose -- to decrease common purpose -- to decrease the likelihood that American the likelihood that American citizens will choose corrupt citizens will choose corrupt means to achieve success.means to achieve success.

Types of CorruptionTypes of Corruption– Moral corruptionMoral corruption

Murder, dishonesty, breaking a vowMurder, dishonesty, breaking a vow– Political corruptionPolitical corruption

Ignoring a conflict of interest, genocide, Ignoring a conflict of interest, genocide, accepting bribesaccepting bribes

– Economic corruptionEconomic corruption Insider trading, fixing the books, Insider trading, fixing the books,

– Legal/Judicial CorruptionLegal/Judicial Corruption Racial supremacy, ignoring a conflict of Racial supremacy, ignoring a conflict of

interest, breaking an established lawinterest, breaking an established law

Why is Civic Virtue Why is Civic Virtue Important?Important? When a society exists that prioritizes When a society exists that prioritizes

individual freedom of choice over individual freedom of choice over government control of its citizens, government control of its citizens, then CV is essential.then CV is essential.

In such societies CV replaces the In such societies CV replaces the dictatorial methods of totalitarian dictatorial methods of totalitarian governments/societies.governments/societies.

In such societies CV controls people’s In such societies CV controls people’s behavior instead of the government behavior instead of the government controlling people’s behavior.controlling people’s behavior.

WhoWho is responsible? is responsible?

“The Jews, the Greeks, the Romans, the Dutch, all lost their public spirit, their republican principles and habits, and their republican forms of government when they lost the modesty and domestic virtues of their women. The foundations of national morality must be laid in private families. In vain are schools, academies, and universities instituted, if loose principles and licentious habits are impressed upon children in their earliest years. The mothers are the earliest and most important instructors of youth.

President John Adams President John Adams QuoteQuote

Letter from Mary Morris to Letter from Mary Morris to Catherine Livingston (1780)Catherine Livingston (1780) ““Since liberty is never sure until virtue Since liberty is never sure until virtue

reigns triumphant the stability of the reigns triumphant the stability of the liberties of this country rests with you.”liberties of this country rests with you.”

““It rests with us women to make this It rests with us women to make this retreat from the corruptions of Europe retreat from the corruptions of Europe peaceful and happy by banishing from it peaceful and happy by banishing from it those crimes and corruptions, which those crimes and corruptions, which have never yet failed to give rise to have never yet failed to give rise to tyranny or anarchy. tyranny or anarchy. While you thus While you thus keep our country virtuous, you maintain keep our country virtuous, you maintain its independence.”its independence.”

A.J. Graves Quote A.J. Graves Quote (1814)(1814)

““Home is her appropriate sphere of Home is her appropriate sphere of action; and that whenever she action; and that whenever she neglects these duties, or goes out of neglects these duties, or goes out of this sphere she is deserting the station this sphere she is deserting the station God and nature have assigned her – to God and nature have assigned her – to train up good citizens.”train up good citizens.”

Discourse on Female Influence Discourse on Female Influence – Jonathan Stearns (1820)– Jonathan Stearns (1820)

““Ladies, it is for you to decide if we Ladies, it is for you to decide if we shall be a nation of refined and high shall be a nation of refined and high minded Christians, or whether, minded Christians, or whether, rejecting the civilities of life, and rejecting the civilities of life, and throwing off the restraints of morality throwing off the restraints of morality and piety, we shall become a fierce and piety, we shall become a fierce race of semi-barbarians, before race of semi-barbarians, before whom neither order, nor honor, nor whom neither order, nor honor, nor chastity can stand.”chastity can stand.”

The Civic VirtuesThe Civic Virtues

ResponsibilityResponsibility The ability to choose for oneself The ability to choose for oneself

between right and wrong; the between right and wrong; the ability to answer for one’s ability to answer for one’s conduct and obligations.conduct and obligations.

InitiativeInitiative Independent of outside influence Independent of outside influence

or control; and introductory step; or control; and introductory step; energy and aptitude displayed in energy and aptitude displayed in initiation of action.initiation of action.

IntegrityIntegrity Adherence to moral and ethical Adherence to moral and ethical

principles; soundness of moral principles; soundness of moral character; firm adherence to a character; firm adherence to a codecode

““Always do right - this will gratify Always do right - this will gratify some and astonish the rest.” - some and astonish the rest.” - Mark Twain Mark Twain

RespectRespect An act of giving particular An act of giving particular

attention, to hold in high or attention, to hold in high or special regard, to honor or hold in special regard, to honor or hold in high esteem.high esteem.

JusticeJustice The quality of The quality of

being impartial being impartial or fair; the or fair; the administration of administration of equitable law.equitable law.

Lady Justice Lady Justice

JusticeJustice ““Justice is the end of government, Justice is the end of government,

it is the end of civil society.”it is the end of civil society.”– James Madison, 4James Madison, 4thth President of the USA President of the USA

ModerationModeration The quality of being moderate; The quality of being moderate;

avoidance of extremes or avoidance of extremes or excesses; restraintexcesses; restraint

““If one oversteps the bounds of If one oversteps the bounds of moderation, the greatest pleasures moderation, the greatest pleasures cease to please.” - Epictetus, Greek cease to please.” - Epictetus, Greek PhilosopherPhilosopher

Moderation in temper is always a Moderation in temper is always a virtue, but moderation in principle is virtue, but moderation in principle is always a vice.” - Thomas Paine (1737-always a vice.” - Thomas Paine (1737-1809)1809)

ModerationModeration

Perseverance Perseverance The act, condition, or instance of The act, condition, or instance of

persevering; to persist in an persevering; to persist in an undertaking despite opposition or undertaking despite opposition or discouragement.discouragement.

CourageCourage Mental or moral strength to Mental or moral strength to

venture, persevere, and venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.difficulty.

Which virtue is Which virtue is addressed in each addressed in each quote?quote? ““Treat your fellow human being Treat your fellow human being

fairly, disagree with them honestly, fairly, disagree with them honestly, enjoy their friendship, explore your enjoy their friendship, explore your thoughts about one another candidly, thoughts about one another candidly, work together for a common goal and work together for a common goal and help one another achieve it. No help one another achieve it. No destructive lies, no ridiculous fears, destructive lies, no ridiculous fears, no debilitating anger.” no debilitating anger.” -- Bill Bradley -- Bill Bradley (Prof. Basketball player and US Senator)(Prof. Basketball player and US Senator)

Name the virtue. . .Name the virtue. . . ““It is the sign of a great mind to It is the sign of a great mind to

dislike greatness, and prefer things dislike greatness, and prefer things in measure to things in excess.” in measure to things in excess.” – – Seneca, Roman Philosopher & PoliticianSeneca, Roman Philosopher & Politician

““You gain strength and confidence You gain strength and confidence with every experience in which you with every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” really stop to look fear in the face.” -- Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady-- Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady

Name that virtue . . . Name that virtue . . . ““The consciousness of having The consciousness of having

discharged that duty which we owe discharged that duty which we owe to our country is superior to all to our country is superior to all other considerations.” other considerations.” -- George -- George Washington, First President of USAWashington, First President of USA

““Inspiration arrives as a packet of Inspiration arrives as a packet of material to be delivered.” material to be delivered.” – John – John Updike, author & Pulitzer Prize winnerUpdike, author & Pulitzer Prize winner

Fulfilling the PurposeFulfilling the Purpose Review: the common purpose of ALL Review: the common purpose of ALL

civic virtues iscivic virtues is: to decrease the : to decrease the likelihood that American citizens will likelihood that American citizens will choose corrupt means to achieve choose corrupt means to achieve success. success.

So let’s take a look at how each of the So let’s take a look at how each of the civic virtues we identified aids in civic virtues we identified aids in fulfilling this purpose.fulfilling this purpose.

ResponsibilityResponsibility Review: Review: When a society exists that prioritizes When a society exists that prioritizes

individual freedom of choice over government individual freedom of choice over government control of its citizens then CVs control people’s control of its citizens then CVs control people’s behavior instead of the government controlling behavior instead of the government controlling people’s behavior.people’s behavior.

Fulfilled:Fulfilled: When one is willing and able to When one is willing and able to accept responsibility for one’s actions accept responsibility for one’s actions then accountability/responsibility become then accountability/responsibility become tools that assist individuals in controlling tools that assist individuals in controlling their actions and allow the government to their actions and allow the government to remain absent from such remain absent from such individual/societal control.individual/societal control.

InitiativeInitiative Fulfilled: Fulfilled: When an individual When an individual

steps up to take action on what steps up to take action on what he/she believes is right, despite he/she believes is right, despite outside influence that individual outside influence that individual displays the willingness to expose displays the willingness to expose corruption – even when the corruption – even when the masses are not willing to do so.masses are not willing to do so.

IntegrityIntegrity Fulfilled:Fulfilled: By adhering to a moral By adhering to a moral

or ethical code an individual shows or ethical code an individual shows that he/she is capable of that he/she is capable of controlling his/her actions and of controlling his/her actions and of making ethical choices. making ethical choices.

This person does what is right This person does what is right simply because it is the right thing simply because it is the right thing to do and does not need outside to do and does not need outside incentives in order to do so, incentives in order to do so, allowing the government to limit allowing the government to limit interference in our lives. How?interference in our lives. How?

Government incentives for Government incentives for making lawful choices:making lawful choices: Most often the government Most often the government

provides incentive in the form of provides incentive in the form of negative consequences. You negative consequences. You choose to do what is right in order choose to do what is right in order to avoid the consequence of to avoid the consequence of choosing what is wrong.choosing what is wrong.

Speeding tickets, fines, public service, Speeding tickets, fines, public service, etc.etc.

Can you imagine living Can you imagine living in a country where . . .in a country where . . . disobeying your parents was against disobeying your parents was against

the law?the law? Lying was against the law?Lying was against the law? People served jail time for creating a People served jail time for creating a

policy that many viewed as unfair?policy that many viewed as unfair? the government publicly punished the government publicly punished

people who committed adultery?people who committed adultery?

RespectRespect Fulfilled:Fulfilled: Since we all want to be Since we all want to be

respected it motivates us to act respected it motivates us to act in a manner that will command in a manner that will command the respect of others. the respect of others.

Our desire to be respected Our desire to be respected influences our decisions.influences our decisions.

JusticeJustice Fulfilled: Fulfilled: Making decisions and Making decisions and

forming opinions that are fair and forming opinions that are fair and unbiased is a means of gaining unbiased is a means of gaining respect.respect.

What you may desire as an individual What you may desire as an individual may not be what is fair for the larger may not be what is fair for the larger group – thus your desire to be just will group – thus your desire to be just will guide you away from corrupt guide you away from corrupt decisions.decisions.

ModerationModeration Fulfilled:Fulfilled: If Americans prioritized and If Americans prioritized and

valued all things in excess it would valued all things in excess it would lead to selfish decisions and would lead to selfish decisions and would limit an individuals desire to sacrifice limit an individuals desire to sacrifice for the greater good.for the greater good.

Practicing moderation develops a Practicing moderation develops a selfless character that is less likely to selfless character that is less likely to choose his/her own desires over the choose his/her own desires over the good of the group.good of the group.

PerseverancePerseverance Fulfilled:Fulfilled: If all individuals If all individuals

persevered toward success persevered toward success instead of taking the easy way instead of taking the easy way out, then fewer unethical out, then fewer unethical decisions would be made.decisions would be made.

Through perseverance we learn Through perseverance we learn to work for what we have and not to work for what we have and not steal it from others.steal it from others.

CourageCourage Fulfilled:Fulfilled: Like initiative, courage Like initiative, courage

is essential to the ability of a is essential to the ability of a society to stand up against society to stand up against corruption even when it is not corruption even when it is not easy. Those who take initiative easy. Those who take initiative also possess the courage to do also possess the courage to do so.so.

Why do the following Why do the following choices disappoint choices disappoint us?us?Civic Virtues in actionCivic Virtues in action

Professional baseball Professional baseball players choosing to use players choosing to use steroids.steroids.

Why will Pete Rose never be Why will Pete Rose never be put into the Hall of Fame?put into the Hall of Fame?

Why was President Clinton Why was President Clinton impeached for having an impeached for having an affair?affair?

Why do Americans Why do Americans care if Tiger Woods care if Tiger Woods cheats on his wife?cheats on his wife?

Why do politicians think they Why do politicians think they can win votes by touting their can win votes by touting their humble beginnings?humble beginnings?

Senator Joe Biden Chosen Senator Joe Biden Chosen as VP Candidate – Why?as VP Candidate – Why? Obama stressed those roots, introducing Obama stressed those roots, introducing

65-year-old Biden as "still that scrappy 65-year-old Biden as "still that scrappy kid from Scranton who beat the odds.“ kid from Scranton who beat the odds.“ He noted hardships in Biden's life, He noted hardships in Biden's life, including the deaths of Biden's first wife including the deaths of Biden's first wife and infant daughter in a 1972 car wreck and infant daughter in a 1972 car wreck and his struggle to overcome a brain and his struggle to overcome a brain aneurysm in 1988. iReporters ask if Biden aneurysm in 1988. iReporters ask if Biden was really the best choice. "That's the was really the best choice. "That's the kind of fighter I want by my side in the kind of fighter I want by my side in the months and years to come," Obama said.months and years to come," Obama said.

– CNN.com (August 2008)CNN.com (August 2008)

Smoking BansSmoking Bans Why have government imposed Why have government imposed

smoking bans been successfully smoking bans been successfully passed in so many states?passed in so many states?

Given the health concerns related to Given the health concerns related to smoking and second-hand smoke, smoking and second-hand smoke, what is lacking among a majority of what is lacking among a majority of smokers that has led many state smokers that has led many state governments to pass such bans?governments to pass such bans?

     States in white have enacted statewide smoking bans in all public places.