Basis for Selecting the 7 Civility Values
Context
Civility is based upon 7 values: human dignity, respect, acceptance, responsibility, constructiveness, intentionality and public-spiritedness. These values have been identified as the foundation of Civility because they work together with the 7 Civility behaviors to deliver results while recognizing differences and building mutual respect through civil discourse.
Deliver Results
- The values strongly drive the 7 sets of behaviors.
- The values and behaviors produce the desired results.
- Society is more productive.
- Civility behaviors become habits, valuable assets.
- People are engaged, their capabilities employed.
- Creative and cooperative solutions are generated.
Build Relations
- Build communications skills.
- Provides a safe environment which encourages interactions.
- Creates a positive climate and expectations.
- Promotes positive expectations and attitudes.
- Reduces social tensions and anxiety.
- Promotes trust in people, groups and institutions.
- Builds a sense of teamwork, community and common purpose.
Adequate
- Addresses real differences of experiences, interests, power and views.
Sustainable
- Encourages consideration of long-term consequences.
- Emphasizes the nature of repeated conversations and negotiations.
- Inserts the common good as a meaningful objective and factor to consider.
- Invests in the process.
- Supports the needs of all participants.
Reduce Costs
- Minimizes lost participation, ideas, solutions, compromises.
- Reduces overall communications, legal and transaction costs.
- Discourages destructive discourse, threats and behaviors.
- Avoid and resolve conflicts.
Broadly Supported
- Historically used by many cultures and traditions.
- Consistent with lists of common moral values.
- Commonly described by popular and academic writers.
- Generally supported by the average person.
- Nonpartisan.
- Ecumenical, not promoting one religion or denomination.
Broadly Applied
- Values and behaviors in family, neighborhood, work, play, church and civic situations.
Support Democracy
- Provide moral/community basis for political participation, engagement, voting, funding, service, and legal compliance.
Actionable
- Mutually consistent, supportive, connected values and behaviors.
- Limited set of values with clear definitions and complementary taboos.
- Consistent with human nature, even if requiring education and moral effort.
- Values and behaviors can be taught, practiced and improved.
- Consistent with the findings of modern social sciences.
Powerful
- Values are deeply felt, motivating their adoption, cultivation and application.
- Consistent with the virtuous cycle of reinforcement through social interactions.
- Intuitive definition and connection with practical and moral life.
- Connected with the religious and philosophical vertical dimension of life.
- Capable of being supported as a social norm.
The 7 Civility Values are Supported by World Religions – Good News
Good News 