Patriotism [Paperback]

Igor Primoratz (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2002

Though the average person may take patriotism for granted as a natural feeling of loyalty to one's country, among philosophers the nature, moral standing, and political significance of patriotism have always been contentious. On the one hand, there are those who defend patriotic loyalty as either a duty or a virtue and extol it as an indispensable condition of a viable polity. On the other hand, critics of patriotism maintain that it is morally suspect to prefer one's country and compatriots, and doing so offends against impartial justice and hinders universal human solidarity. Today, patriotism is a topic of debate not only in moral philosophy but also in political theory, where it is often brought up as a test case in the confrontation between liberals and communitarians. These debates have produced much high-quality writing, the best of which is here presented in this wide-ranging collection of essays by philosophers and political theorists. All the main varieties of patriotism are covered - moderate and extreme, as well as ethnic/cultural and political - and both critics and defenders are given a hearing. Editor Igor Primoratz has also included articles that discuss the history of the term in moral and political discourse in the English-speaking world, the distinctively American type of patriotism, the relation of patriotism to nationalism and racism, and the tension between patriotism and universal human solidarity, especially as this issue relates to foreign aid. As the first anthology to treat patriotism in its own right, this work emphasises that patriotism is a distinct moral and political outlook, and is not merely a variety of nationalism or the emotional underpinning of nationalist theories. As such, it will be an important resource for courses in philosophy and political science, and will also serve as an accessible general reader for the interested layperson.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Is patriotism a duty and a virtue or is it jingoistic, irrational, and even immoral? Is patriotism a form of loyalty or a form of aggression? Igor Primoratz has collected 15 essays from some of the best thinkers on the subject. A wide range of perspectives are represented here, from Alasdair MacIntyre's defense of patriotism to David McCabe's contention that it is fundamentally at odds with liberal morality. The collection is exciting because the authors are in vigorous conversation with one another. Robert E. Goodin asks "What is so special about our fellow countrymen?" (not much, he concludes), while Stephen Nathanson argues for a conscientious "moderate" patriotism. John H. Schaar offers a heartfelt and thoughtful defense of patriotism, but Paul Gomberg disagrees, arguing that "patriotism is like racism."

Primoratz, associate professor of philosophy at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and certainly no stranger to the effects of patriotism, has also added an excellent short introduction laying out the mains concepts and questions, and carefully distinguishing patriotism from nationalism. In a frightening world of war, terrorism, and bellicose displays of national pride, Patriotism is a breath of reason and intelligence. --Eric de Place

About the Author

Igor Primoratz, associate professor of philosophy at the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel, and principal research fellow, Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics, University of Melbourne, Australia, is the author of JUSTIFYING LEGAL PUNISHMENT and ETHICS AND SEX.

Product Details

• Paperback: 298 pages
• Publisher: Humanity Books (January 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573929557
• ISBN-13: 978-1573929554
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,394,368 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)