Patriotic Duties
When
Title: Patriotic Duties
Abstract: Here I investigate whether we have patriotic duties, or special moral obligations toward our compatriots. I examine five leading arguments: consequentialist, social contract, gratitude, association, and anti-free-rider. Each argument faces limitations of scope and philosophical certainty. Consequentialist reasoning is hampered by empirical uncertainty. The social contract argument is plausible for those who take explicit loyalty oaths, but it’s controversial whether it extends to others. Gratitude supports civic appreciation but struggles to justify more demanding duties. Association accounts ground obligation in citizenship but risk validating harmful roles or collapsing into relativism. The anti-free-rider argument frames citizenship as participation in the “civic commons.” Of the five main arguments, this one most persuasively explains why exploiting collective goods like trust and institutions is wrong, but it too has vulnerabilities. Although no single argument is decisive, their cumulative weight suggests a meta-argument from uncertainty: unless every line of reasoning fails, it is rational to act as though patriotic duties exist. Properly understood, these duties are modest but foundational—not about heroic sacrifice but sustaining the invisible infrastructure of democratic life. Especially vital are “duties of heart and mind”: caring about political affairs, resisting polarization, listening across divides, and maintaining civic trust. In times of hyper-polarization, such inward duties may be the most crucial obligations of citizenship.
As usual, we'll meet in the Maloney Seminar Room, Social Science Building 224, 3-5p. Those unable to attend in person can spectate virtually via this Zoom link.Drinks to follow. Please email Rishi (the host of the week) if you're interested in joining for the post-drinks dinner.