Patriotism

Patriotism is widely, perhaps universally, recognized as a civic Virtue. However, the term has three different meanings, only one of which has Phronetic worth. The first, which could be called 'Populist', refers to an intersection, if not union, of interests of the inhabitants of the same geographical region. The second, 'Totalitarian' refers to the priority, in principle, of the interest of the regional collective, as a unit, over that of any participant. And, in the third, 'Martial', the benefit of the regional collective entails the detriment of some other regional collective. In the latter, a citizen is treated as a Particular, i. e. as a member of the home polity, and as not a member of some foreign one. In Totalitarian Patriotism, personal difference is completely suppressed. So, it is only in the Populist variety that participants are treated as Individuals, such that Patriotism is an enhancement of each's Individuality. Hence, it is only in this case that Patriotic activity is an occasion of Individual Evolvement. Of course, what is probably the commonest use of 'Patriotism', namely, as empty rhetoric, insults the intelligence of an Individual, and, has no Phronetic worth.