Civility

In this lively conversation on an increasingly significant theme, major philosophers and religious scholars argue the issue on three levels. The first is manners: Henry Rosemont argues the Confucian case that manners are the substance of social relations, while Edwin Delattre and Adam Seligman believe that the issue is deeper than that; and the sociologist Alan Wolfe is persuaded that we are not less civil or ill-mannered than our predecessors. Secondly, as a social issue, James Schmidt, Lawrence Cahoone, and Adam Seligman turn to questions of structure and meaning in a civil society; Ninian Smart, David Wong, and Virginia Straus put the issue in a cross-cultural context; Stephen Toulmin describes the corruption of civility by dogmatism; and Carrie Doehring warns that civility may be a barrier to honest communication in family life. Finally, the metaphysical and religious dimensions of civility are explored by Robert Pippin, Adam McClellan, and Daniel Dahlstrom.

There seems to be a consensus that the lack of civility is, indeed, an increasing problem, that it is more than a class issue of manners; and that its current loss is troubling for contemporary society.

Leroy S. Rouner (d. 2006) was the Professor of Philosophy, Religion and Philosophical Theology and Director of the Institute for Philosophy and Religion at Boston University. He edited a number of books and is the author of Within Human Experience: The Philosophy of William Ernest Hocking and To Be at Home: Christianity, Civil Religion and World Community.