Education
VIRTUE
Learning About and Developing YOUR Virtue
Virtue is generally defined as a good moral quality or the general quality of being morally good, representing moral excellence, integrity, and admirable character traits
Types of Virtue
- Moral virtues, such as justice, courage, and honesty.
- Intellectual virtues, like wisdom and discernment.
- Other specialized virtues include physical (strength, coordination) or spiritual (faith, hope, love).
Virtue of DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY
The core virtues ascribed to good governance in a democratic society include participation, representation, responsiveness, efficiency and effectiveness, openness and transparency, rule of law, ethical conduct, competence and capacity, innovation and openness to change, sustainability and long-term orientation, sound financial management, respect for human rights, cultural diversity and social cohesion, and accountability.
Key Democratic Virtues
- Participation and Representation: Involvement of citizens in public life and decision-making, providing every group and individual with a voice.
- Responsiveness: Addressing the needs, complaints, and legitimate expectations of citizens in a timely way.
- Efficiency and Effectiveness: Using resources wisely to achieve agreed objectives, with public services that deliver real results.
- Openness and Transparency: Easily accessible decision-making and information that allow for public scrutiny and input.
- Rule of Law: Applying laws impartially and ensuring everyone, including leaders, follows established rules.
- Ethical Conduct: Prioritizing the public good, preventing corruption, and managing conflicts of interest openly.
- Accountability: Elected officials and public servants are held answerable for their actions and decisions.
- Justice and Equality: Treating all citizens fairly, providing equal rights, and respecting diversity and minority voices.
- Common Good: Making collective decisions for the benefit of all, rather than narrow interests.
- Popular Sovereignty: Authority resides with the people, who grant power to government via free and fair elections.
