From Victoria’s School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations, Professor Simon Keller will discuss the ethics of patriotism and give the audience an opportunity to reflect on the kind of patriotism New Zealanders want.
Professor Keller says patriotism is importantly different from the love one feels for family or friends, because countries are so large and complex, and can only be known through an act of imagination. He says that patriotism involves a commitment to a picture of your country, which will often be simplified and inaccurate.
“I have this idea that people romanticise their country from the outside and feel that it has deep valuable features—thinking their fellow countrymen are friendlier or more generous than those overseas.”
Professor Keller says much of patriotism involves imagining your home country to be something other than what it really is.
“When people take patriotism seriously—for example when they are willing to fight or kill—there is a real danger that they will be doing it for something that doesn’t exist.”
Describing it as mysterious and interesting, Professor Keller also says that patriotism—regardless of the country—is a deeper and more troubling idea than traditionally thought.
“Should encouraging patriotism be a goal of the political system, public policy or the education system? Should we teach our children to be patriotic? This is where a lot of difficult questions are raised about the nature of morality in regards to patriotism.
“Some people think patriotism will always conflict with morality because morality is necessarily impartial whereas patriotism is about a particular relationship with one country.
“On the other hand, others think patriotism is required for morality because it is only by being part of a community that we can generate moral standards.”
Professor Keller says that questions about the ethics of patriotism are especially relevant as we debate whether to change the New Zealand flag.
“Thinking about the flag forces us to think about the purpose of national identity. Should we choose a flag that represents New Zealand as it is, or as we wish it were or as we hope it to be?
“Is it possible to have a flag that is inclusive of all New Zealanders, but also shows how we are different from others? Or is the whole point just to make us feel good, in whatever way we can?"