UNIT ONE: UNDERTANDING CIVICS AND ETHICS

INTRODUTION
Civics and Ethics is an emerging field of the study in the field ofsocial science. After 1990s,
the official launching of democracy and democratization process among countries which
were, hitherto ruled under dictatorial regimes across nearly half part of the world revived the
significance of civics or civic Education. However, the disciple is as old as human
civilization. Previously the subject was thought along with history and political science.
There is statement that expresses interdisciplinary nature of civics and ethics and political
science i.e. “Civics has no root without political science and political science has no fruit
without civics”.
In some country civics and ethics is included in the official curriculums as citizenship
Education. Although there is a variation across countries in name/nomenclature, in most
cases the subject has retained the name of Civics or civic Education. In history of our country
Civics and Ethics or civic and Ethical Education has thought with different name throughout
all regimes. During the Emperor HaileSilassie time was thought as Moral Education. The
purpose of moral education at the time was to inculcate the divine right theory and the
Solomonic legend so that people/subjects would accept his kingship without any claim
against his absolutepower.

During the Derg time, also civics and ethics was thought as political education. Political
education had been given with aim of indoctrinating the ideology of the government.
Socialism was the guiding ideology that the citizens needed to learn about it. In post 1991 the
subject has retained the current name and changed in scope and dimensions of citizenship that
is covering wide range of issues and domains of society.

Civics and Ethical studies by its very nature is a multi-disciplinary field of study. Civics as
part of Social Science discipline is more close/relate with Political Science, Law, Economics,
Sociology and others while Ethics relies more on Philosophy. Because, philosophy as part of
Social Science deals about Metaphysics, Epistemology, Religion, Aesthetics, Ethics and
others.This unit focuses on the meaning civics and ethics,similarities between civics and
ethics, the rational and objectives of civics and ethics, and the competences of good citizens.

1.1 Etymological Definitions of Civics and Ethics

Civics: The word civics is derived from the Latin word ‘Civis’ which means a ‘Citizen’.
Another Latin word ‘Civitas’ means ‘City state’. Both these words have given birth to the

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social science known as ‘Civics’. Civics is a science i.e. a social science. Civics defined as a
branch of knowledge which deals with various aspects of social life of citizens. In short its
scope is wide that deals the social,economic, political, environmental and even religious
aspects of citizens.

Ethics:The term ethics is derived from the Greece word ‘ethos’. In Greece ethos means
manner, character, habit or customs. Ethics is a branch of philosophy that tries to determine
the good and right thing to do; choices regarding right & wrong, good & bad and so on.
Simply ethics deals about the conduct of human beings and judges the action whether it
moral or immoral.
1.2 Civics, Citizenship, Ethics and Morality

Civic education is primarily deals with the rights and duties of citizens in a state or political
system. It deals with the reciprocal relationship of state and citizens with respect to the
legally defined rights and obligation. In some countries, citizenship education primarily
focuses on the civil and political rights of citizens and the respective obligation as well as
rights of state as defined by the constitution. In such countries the rights of citizens are only
limited to civil and political rights like the right to elect and to be elected, the right to hold
political views and freedom of expression, association, right of privacy, life, security, the
right to be treated equally and so on. These rights presuppose the non -intervention of the
state in the social and economic conditions of the society. And hence the only obligation that
is expected from the state and citizens is not to infringe the rights of other individuals.
Beyond respecting the rights of citizens the state is required to enforce peace, order and
stability. So, the state does not have obligation to full fill the needs of the citizens such as
employment, social services and provisions.

In some other countries the scope of rights are extended to social and economic rights. Some
countries, especially Scandinavians regions are said to be welfare state. Such welfare state do
have obligation to full fill the social and economic needs of the citizens. Thus, in addition to
ensuring peace and stability and order, such kinds of states do have social and economic
responsibilities to its citizens.

In countries like Ethiopia the scope of rights and duties are vast. As indicated in the third
chapter of the constitutions, the state has economic, social, environmental and developmental
obligations. In addition to ensuring peace and security, law and order at, the state has also
cultural responsibilities. Citizens, on the other hand do have civil, political, socio-economic,

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cultural, developmental and environmental rights.The constitution has recognized group
rights in addition to individual rights. Accordingly, there are bundles of rights given to
children, women, Nation, Nationalities and Peoples, Labour, pastoralists, and famers of
Ethiopia.

Ethics is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality. Ethics is

exclusively deals with morality: how to choose good and evil and how to help others. In other
words ethics questions or evaluates moral principles and thinking and provides logical and
meaningful answers to them. Thus, ethics can be defined as systematic general science of
right and wrong conduct/the study of morality.

Morality refers to the actual pattern of conducts, manner, character and proper behaviour of
individuals and the direct working rules of moral actions in a society. It is a sense of
behavioural conduct that differentiates intentions, decisions and actions between those that
are good or bad, right or wrong, virtue or vice in human social settings. In short it defined the
doctrine of moral duties or quality of actions as estimated by a standard of right and wrong.
Its major objective is to make the world a better place by producing good tendencies.

Citizenship comes from the word ‘citizen’ that refers to people of a certain nation or people
who live in a certain state. Citizen is a person who has a status of legal membership for the
state. Thus citizens are legal members of a state with rights to enjoy and responsibilities to
shoulder. All in all, citizenship is a full membership in a state or it is a relation between an
individual and the state which is defined by the law of the state with rights and corresponding
duties and responsibilities.
1.3 Rationales of Civics And Ethics

The very purpose of learning Civics and Ethics is to create good citizens. Good citizens are
not only right-based but also posses’ duties. Citizens do have correlated duties that
particularly emanate from the nature of the citizenship rights.

Dear Learner! Why we learn Civics and Ethics?

F Democracy needs to be reborn in every generation and education is its midwife.

John Dewey

As you know the concept and practice of democracy is strange to Ethiopia. In order to build
up democracy, citizens need to know about democracy, its principles, values, processes,
structures, challenges and prospects. In addition to such knowledge, citizens are required to

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up hold democratic values and exercise them in their day to day decision making processes.
As the saying goes democracy without democrats will not sustain. The commitments and
democratic qualities of citizens are most required to having a well-functioning and
sustainable democratic system in the country. The other major rational why we learn civics is
to have good knowledge and awareness about the social and economic conditions and
challenges of our country.

In general, the rationale of teaching civic and ethics also includes:-

To make citizen aware about the fundamental rights, freedoms and duties.
To initiate citizens to participate actively in the political and social activities of the
government or state,
To produce competent and responsible citizens who actively take part in the overall
development of the country,
To develop the culture of democracy and avoid the culture of passivity and apathy, and
To make citizen think rationally and critically.
To make citizen feel responsible to whatever they do … etc

These are only few of the reasons why we learn civics and ethics. We can generally say that
the ultimate rational for learning civics and ethics is to create good citizens.
Who do you think is a good citizen?
A good citizen is one who:
 Up holds democracy and support the democratic system
 Pursue wisdom
 Respects law
 Actively participates in the cultural, socio-economic and political affairs of the society
 Develops culture of saving
 Is hard working and industrious
 Is patriotic for his country and peoples
 Responsible
 Up holds and fights for the realization equality of groups and individuals
 Stands for justice and fairness
 Is self-reliant and confident
 Puts the general welfare above his own welfare.
 Realizes the necessary connection of education with democracy.
1.4 Aims of teaching civics and Ethics

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Some important aims of teaching civics are given below.
1.Ideal Citizenship
The most important aim of teaching civics is to produce ideal citizens i.e., Ideal citizens are
those citizens who are competent and active participant in the process of respecting their right
and fulfilling their duties.
2. Producing Citizens with National Pride and Patriotism
No country can progress effectively unless its citizens are soaked in the spirit of patriotism.
They should be prepared to sacrifice everything for their motherland. They should also be
proud of their cultural heritage and uphold the values of the society.
3. Development of Democratic outlook and Strengthening Democracy
By inculcating the basic principles and virtues of democracy and good governance, the course
will help for the creation and development of democratic/participatory political culture in the
country.
4. Political Consciousness and social efficiency
The course will serve as an input to raise the political and social awareness of the student.
This will in turn brings politically and socially and effective and efficient citizens.
5. Scientific and Rational Outlook
Civics and ethics also help the student to develop rational and scientific methods of
understanding their society, county and world at all. By doing so the course will help them to
free themselves from stereotype, prejudice and so on.
6. Strengthening National and International Integration
On this case, the course will also serve in strengthen the linkage and awareness of people
across country. This includes creating a global citizen that could think globally and act
locally.
7. Celebrating diversity
As it is almost impossible to find a homogeneous population across the country, developing a
culture of tolerance and accommodation of differences is an essential value for the society.
The diversity within the society may arise from religion, ethnicity, culture or language.
1.5 Competence of Good Citizens

Active or effective participation of citizens in the multifaceted problems of thesociety is an

imperative. Any kind of participation may not be successful and bring change in the society.
What is required is informed decision and action. For that citizens need to have competences
which include civic knowledge, civic skills and civic attitudes.

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Civic knowledge- implies general information and awareness about the social, Cultural,
political, environmental, historical and economic conditions and realities of the past and the
present and also the challenges and prospects ahead of the country. Citizens need to know
their country, its people, history, culture, resources and the like. To that end, knowledge of
history, politics (democracy, constitutions, state and government), sociology, globalization,
environment, philosophy, and economics is very valuable.

Civic attitudes– isanother component which required from citizens. Civic attitudes involve
those character traits, or dispositions which are engrained in the mind of citizens. Civic
attitudes or orientation will develop once citizens acquired civic knowledge. In order to
discharge ones responsibility, for example, community service, citizens need to develop
positive outlook and concern for the community. Altruistic qualities are required to help the
poor and vulnerable ones in the community.

Civic Skills - are the third elements which are required from good citizens. These involve
skills of decision making, communication, conflict resolution, compromise, persuasion,
creativity and the like.The following can be listed in this regard:
To take part in political discussions; consciousness of current political issues; to be
able to evaluate a position or decision, take a position, defend a position
To resolve conflicts in a peaceful way
To interpret the media messages (interests and value systems that are involved etc.)
To have media skills to look, choose, and ‘use the buttons’
To have language competence, reading and writing;
To be capable in critical handling of information and information technology;
To possess communication skills
To know how to vote; to monitor and influence policies and decisions
To use the media in an active way (not as consumer, but as producer of media content)
To participate in voluntary organizations;
To build coalitions; to co-operate; to interact
To be capable to handle multiculturalism
In order to participate effectively, thus, Citizens are required to have competence of civic
knowledge, attitude and skill.

Summary

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Civics as a branch of human knowledge which deals with rights and duties of citizens living
as a member of group of people that politically organized. It is also a systematized body of
knowledge that deals with citizenship.As a field of study civics and ethics helps us to develop
a broad, rational, national and secular outlook. Generally, civicsultimately contributes to
build the culture of democracy and to uphold fundamental principles and values of
democracy, to solve social conflicts in the society and help man/woman to live in harmony
with his/her other fellow beings. Virtues like co-operation, co-existence, tolerance of
diversity, etc. contribute a lot for peace and stability in a given society.