Civic virtue encompasses the habits, values, and attitudes that support the general welfare and the effective operation of a society. It is deeply linked to the concept of citizenship, representing the willingness of individuals to prioritize the common good over their own personal or special interests.
Political philosophers have long sought to identify the specific character traits that constitute civic virtue. Related to this is the concept of civility, which refers to the social norms and behaviors that govern interactions between people and groups, serving as a fundamental basis for law and social order.