civic virtue
Duty to community
Civic virtue is the commitment to public good over private interest—the qualities and behaviors that make democratic society function.
It includes voting, jury service, informed participation, and willingness to sacrifice for the common welfare.
The concept traces to ancient republics, where citizens were expected to subordinate personal gain to the health of the state: Civic virtue requires putting community before self.
Unity among allies
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
- philanthropyGenerous giving for others
- benevolenceDisposition toward doing good
- altruismPrioritizing others' wellbeing
collectivism · common good · social capital · neighborliness · mutual aid · generosity · charity · voluntarism
State of being answerable
- obligationRequired task or commitment
- citizenshipStatus as state member
- serviceAid or maintenance
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
patriotism · loyalty · sacrifice · dedication · discipline · stewardship · contribution · reliability
Formally registering a choice
- activismDirect effort for reform
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- volunteerismUnpaid community assistance
- involvementState of being engaged
elections · advocacy · petition · referendum · ballot · assembly · townhall · debate
Moral soundness and consistency
- honestyTruthfulness, sincerity
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
- justiceFair treatment under law
- conscienceInternal moral sense
character · principle · rectitude · uprightness · righteousness · decency · equity · scruples
solidarity
Unity among allies
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
- philanthropyGenerous giving for others
- benevolenceDisposition toward doing good
altruism · collectivism · common good · social capital · neighborliness · mutual aid · generosity · charity · voluntarism · community service
responsibility
State of being answerable
- obligationRequired task or commitment
- citizenshipStatus as state member
- serviceAid or maintenance
commitment · patriotism · loyalty · sacrifice · dedication · discipline · stewardship · contribution · reliability · lawfulness
voting
Formally registering a choice
- activismDirect effort for reform
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- volunteerismUnpaid community assistance
involvement · elections · advocacy · petition · referendum · ballot · assembly · townhall · debate · grassroots
integrity
Moral soundness and consistency
conscience · character · principle · rectitude · uprightness · righteousness · decency · equity · scruples · probity
- Ancient RomeRome, Julius Caesar, Caesar, gladiator, gladiators
- civicsballot, election, ballots, Bill of Rights, branches of government
- valuesvalue, honesty, worth, fairness, morals
- ClassicalMozart, Beethoven, Haydn, symphony, sonata
- community valuescommon good, solidarity, social cohesion, diversity, mutual respect
- virtuesintegrity, honesty, justice, courage, fairness
civic virtuecorruption
Dishonest abuse of power
vice · wickedness · immorality · evil · moral turpitude
civic virtueself-interest
Concern for personal advantage
selfishness · greed · egoism · avarice · self-seeking
civic virtuepolitical apathy
Indifference to governance
disengagement · free-riding · indifference · dereliction of duty · alienation
civil, civic, virtue, civilian, civilized, virtuous, civilization, uncivilized, civility