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Loving Pimlico: Patriotism in the Age of the Cosmopolis

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posted on 2009-12-04, 00:00 authored by Sarah Loretto Houser
Patriotism is seen as something positive in our common political discourse; however, among political philosophers it is often seen as an unreflective and irrational love of the familiar. This dissertation explores the question of what precisely patriotism is and whether or not it can be moral. First, I examine Martha Nussbaum's cosmopolitan critique of patriotism based upon her theory of universal human 'capabilities.' Secondly, I explore the concept of 'constitutional patriotism,' particularly in the work of Jan-Werner MÌÄå_ller. Constitutional patriotism is a concept, first formulated by JÌÄå_rgen Habermas, that attempts to make patriotism compatible with liberalism by transforming the object of the patriot's attachment from a concrete political entity to a set of liberal constitutional principles. Finally, I attempt to construct a conception of patriotism which is both substantive and limited based upon an Aristotelian/Thomistic notion of friendship. I suggest that patriotism has to be understood as acting for the good of one's political community. In addition, it has to be limited by an understanding of the political community as a finite entity dedicated to the pursuit of one among many possible instantiations of the political good.

History

Date Modified

2017-06-05

Defense Date

2009-08-22

Research Director(s)

Michael P. Zuckert

Committee Members

Eileen Hunt Botting Catherine H. Zuckert Mary Keys

Degree

  • Doctor of Philosophy

Degree Level

  • Doctoral Dissertation

Language

  • English

Alternate Identifier

etd-12042009-173445

Publisher

University of Notre Dame

Program Name

  • Political Science

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