Civility

Can Ethics be Taught?

If so, What Should be the Goals of Teaching Ethics? I have blogged before about the importance of teaching ethics to youngsters and college students. There are so many activities that occur in our lives that challenge us to distinguish between ‘right’ and ‘wrong.’ We need a framework to deal with such situations. In that […]

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U.S. Democracy Will Not be Destroyed Because of Forces from Outside but Because of Enemies from Within

The Lost Art of Civility and Decency The other day, I had a discussion with a colleague of mine about “The Lost Art of Civility,” something I have blogged about before. He seemed to believe that we are just now losing civility in American society. He pointed to the war in Iran, the takeover of

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Trump Presidency: Disruptor on Steroids

Has Trump Crossed a “Bridge Too Far?” It should come as no surprise that I label President Trump as a disruptor. His presidency got started when he decided to mix things up, tear things down, make bold moves that could be called reckless. In other words, he was like a “bull in a china shop.”

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Blame the Decline of Civility on the Dems and Republicans

Characteristics of Civility I have blogged before about the decline of civility in society. I always begin those blogs with the following statement: By age sixteen, George Washington had copied out by hand 110 Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation. They are based on a set of rules composed by French Jesuits

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The Growing Costs of Incivility Are Negatively Affecting Business Performance

The Security Executive Council’s Analysis Recently, I read a study by The Security Executive Council that identifies increasing incidence of incivility and related negative behaviors, including rule breaking, disorder, and violence, that is costing U.S. businesses billions of dollars in lost productivity and absenteeism attributable to incivility. The report identifies environments such as retail floors,

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Bringing Civility Back to the Classroom

Can Civility Be Measured in a Non-Academic Sense? I recently read a piece by Sarah D. Sparks, Colleges Will Give a Leg Up to Students Who Demonstrate Civility,  posted on Education Week, that some colleges are going to give a “leg up” to certain applicants, based on civility determinations, which will provide a preferential advantage in the admissions process.

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Analyzing the Portrayal of Bipolar Disorder in the show, Homeland

Understanding the Characteristic Traits of Behavior Years ago, I watched a fantastic show that is streaming online called Homeland. I decided to watch it again, seeking to bett6er understand the bipolar disorder that afflicts the main character—Carrie Mathison. The cast is terrific including the star, Claire Danes, a CIA officer from 2011 to 2020. Danes stars as

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Building a More Compassionate Society

What Will It Take to Be More Considerate of Others? While many people think compassion and empathy are the same, the fact is there are important differences. By discussing each as a separate ethical value, we can begin to see how each might influence ethical behavior and the response of one individual to another’s actions

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