Problem: Civility

As the population grows and people move to cities en masse, the vast majority of people live in close quarters to one another.  As this phenomenon continues to grow there becomes a “rat king” problem.  Also, as our society evolves technologically, we have less and less need for our “neighbors”.  This leads to the attitude that the “other guy” is getting something that I could have had, rather than the more healthy: there’s enough for everyone attitude.  Now with cellphones we can disconnect at any time, for any reason, and anywhere.  Furthering the problem of civility was Covid.

As civility wains in our societies, so do our societies.  It is perhaps a well-known secret that the formalities of government keep government civil; they are often what makes a good government.  The same applies to societies.  When the so-called formalities of a good society wain, the society becomes less good.  As we as a society disregard accepted norms and traditions, we often lose some that are actually useful, and good.

Although civility is an esoteric concept, it is also one which can be recognized.  There are many examples of the dissolution of civility ranging from the way we drive, to the way we dress but civility, in all its forms is a cornerstone of any society worth living in.  It is not easy, and that is a problem since ease has become more and more important to us as citizens.  However, we must remember that easy is often not the best motivation for doing anything.

Solution: Parenting, Education, Population Control

            Yes.  Good parenting is an essential solution to the problem of civility.  However, sadly to say, there are many bad parents in the world, but solutions to bad parenting come with their own set of issues.  We could take Plato’s approach, that in The Republic. Population control, however, is an issue that must be addressed no matter what.  And this would seem to help civility.  If we are to live in close quarters, the less of us there are, the better behaved we might be.

            Of course, the primary solution has to be the education of children in the importance of being civil.  This could range from utilitarian manners to lessons in basic ethical philosophy (sympathy, empathy etc…)  We could broaden the education to those in prison, and those charged with lesser crimes.  If we chose to go China’s way, we could punish people for slight infractions, although it is not clear that that approach actually makes for a civil society.

            The easiest and the most difficult is for us all to realize that we would live in a better society if we all acted civilly towards one another.  Several other issues that could be enacted have been mentioned above.  If we as individuals simply acted responsibly and courteously towards one another at all times, it would go a long way.  However, getting to that point seems problematic without some kind of education in civility.