Original scientific paper

Patriotism as an Ethical Position

Igor Primorac

Abstract

The author distinguishes between worldly patriotism, which seeks to promote the mundane interests of the patria such as its political stability and power, economic strength, cultural vibrancy, etc., and a distinctively ethical type of patriotism, which is concerned with the country’s moral identity and integrity. Worldly patriotism is devoid of positive moral significance; it is neither a duty, nor a stance that is morally valuable if freely adopted. In contrast, the distinctively ethical type of patriotism is, under certain fairly common circumstances, a position we ought to adopt. The author offers three arguments for this claim. (1) An individual is, by and large, in a much better position to identify, criticize, and try to change immoral policies and practices in her own country, among her own people, than in a foreign country, among strangers. (2) The acceptance of benefits resulting from immoral policies or practices of one’s own country, or from membership in one’s polity, generates a certain kind of collective moral responsibility; so does solidarity with those who are directly involved in such policies and practices. (3) Democracy, too, imposes a certain kind of collective responsibility for the laws passed and enforced and policies devised and implemented on behalf of all full-fledged citizens. The moral identity and integrity of the democratic Citizen are bound up with the moral identity and integrity of his polity.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

202941

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/202941

Publication date:

2.3.2004.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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