# The Four Literacies ![[resources/american/americanforme-main-cia-four-literacies.png]] **The Four Literacies:** [[american/American Ethos - Material Literacy|Material Literacy]] · [[american/American Ethos - Comportment Literacy|Comportment Literacy]] · [[american/American Ethos - Civic Literacy|Civic Literacy]] · [[american/American Ethos - Operational Literacy|Operational Literacy]] ## The Operating Curriculum Citizen intelligence is the discipline of reading reality, governing the self, and serving the common world. The Four Literacies prevent the curriculum from confusing its most visible surface with its complete purpose. A wardrobe may make competence legible, but a citizen also needs embodied conduct, institutional understanding, and the practical ability to preserve options when conditions become difficult. Material Literacy governs objects, clothing, money, fit, fabric, maintenance, carry, and physical conditions. Comportment Literacy governs the body, voice, table, letter, device, meeting, occasion, conflict, and anonymous public act. Civic Literacy governs institutions, media, signals, constitutional pluralism, public conduct, national systems, and trust. Operational Literacy governs preparation, travel, documents, technology, finance, personal safety, emergency competence, and follow-through. ## The Integration Test - Can the citizen understand and maintain the material world supporting action? - Can the citizen enter rooms and coordinate with people without creating avoidable friction? - Can the citizen read institutions, media, power, and public responsibility without cynicism or naivety? - Can the citizen preserve agency through preparation, technical fluency, and disciplined execution? No literacy stands alone. Material knowledge without comportment becomes possession without social intelligence. Comportment without civic literacy becomes polished conformity. Civic literacy without operational capacity becomes commentary without consequence. Operational capacity without character becomes power without a trustworthy purpose. Formation joins the four until intelligence becomes useful to the common world. <!-- BEGIN AMERICAN KNOWLEDGE ROUTER --> ## American Knowledge Router **System:** [[collections/American|American Collection]] · [[wiki/American System|American System]] · [[wiki/American Ethos|American Ethos]] · [[american/American Ethos - Vision and Doctrine|Branch source]] **Concepts:** [[wiki/Material Literacy|Material Literacy]] · [[wiki/Comportment Literacy|Comportment Literacy]] · [[wiki/Civic Literacy|Civic Literacy]] · [[wiki/Operational Literacy|Operational Literacy]] **Intelligence, defense, and alliance:** [[wiki/American Intelligence and Alliance Interface|American Intelligence and Alliance Interface]] · [[collections/The Civilian Intelligence Marketplace|The Civilian Intelligence Marketplace]] · [[collections/Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and the Intelligence Environment|Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and the Intelligence Environment]] · [[collections/US-Israel Leadership Alliance|US–Israel Leadership Alliance]] <!-- END AMERICAN KNOWLEDGE ROUTER -->