Patriotyzm, tożsamość i śmierć. Rozważania o egzystencji jednostki i wspólnoty politycznej
Patriotism, identity and death. Reflections on the existence of an individual and a political community

Summary/Abstract: The article reflects on the existential foundations of patriotism, identity and death. Thepresented considerations take into account the individual and community aspects of theanalyzed issues. The preservation of eidos (essence) and the adjournment of the end arethe central categories of the presented analysis. The starting point for the considerations is themyth-creating aspect of the historiography of Mistrz Wincenty, which forms the foundationsof self-understanding for the Polish people. Attention is paid to the renaissance of thinkingreferring to myths that characterizes contemporary Western culture, described by ChantalDelsol. The concept of patriotism is analyzed using the understanding of this phenomenonproposed by Alasdair MacIntyre, and there are reference to the literature as well. Theconsiderations reveal the tension between patriotism understood as a special kind of loyaltyshown towards one’s own political community and the requirements of universalist ethics,especially liberal ones. Liberal criticism of patriotism presents it as an anachronistic attitude.It is related to the modern concept of progress. The article refers to the typology of typesof progress proposed by Robert Spaemann, but referring to the division of human activitiescreated by Aristotle. The negative effects – also in the sphere of education – of treating thecategory of progress as an absolute, radicalized and totalized value were emphasized; notrequiring justification and equated with good. The article highlights the immanent threatto the existence of individuals and communities. Jonathan Lear’s study of the decline and rebirth of a culture created by the Native American community, the Crow tribe, is analyzed. The activity of the chief of this tribe in the face of the threat of annihilating the culture ofhis own people is given as an example of prudent patriotism. Patriotism is associated withthe desire to preserve the eidos (essence) and the adjournment of the end of the politicalcommunity.

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