Patriotizam kao etičko stajalište
Patriotism as an Ethical Position

Summary/Abstract: According to a widely accepted understanding, a liberal and democratic state is not capable of persisting as stable and of functioning efficiently without a patriotic ethos: without the population identifying with its country, without the citizens’ loyalty to their political community, without an individual’s particular concern for the well-being of his/her country and fellow countrymen, his/her state and fellow citizens. Hence, as a rule, patriotism is understood as a morally worthy, and even mandatory, standpoint. On the other hand, however, the critics of patriotism claim that it is nothing other than collective egoism, incompatible with impartiality, which is an important quality of morality, with the requirements of universal justice and universal-human solidarity. The second usual objection to patriotism is that it inescapably leads to a disinclination, and even hostility to other countries and nations, that it facilitates militarism, and that, sooner or later, it leads to international tensions, conflicts, and even war. This paper attempts to trace the outline of particular, ethical type of patriotism, considers the reasons supporting it, and warns us of its limitations.

• Details
• Contents