O liberalnej cnocie ogłady
On the Liberal Virtue of Civility

Author(s): Agnieszka Nogal
Subject(s): Philosophy, Political Philosophy
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: civility; polish; political culture; political liberalism; John Rawls
Summary/Abstract: Civility is treated as the main liberal virtue by one of the most important political philosophers of the 20th century, John Rawls. In this interpretation, liberalism requires not only institutions, but also a specific attitude of citizens and the political culture that shapes such attitudes. Political coexistence with citizens who did not share beliefs about a good life became an imperative. Rawls pointed out that the solution is civility, which requires participants in the public sphere to conduct the discussion in such a way as to obtain consent. Civility characterizes citizens who are ready to seek what they have in common with people who hold different views. Politics, however, can be dominated by corporations and capital, which distort public deliberations and discussions, and has an element of contradiction of interests and the pursuit of economic domination, and is also threatened by emotions resulting from attachment to certain religious and philosophical doctrines. It is difficult to say if the duty of civility is a sufficient safeguard.

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