Citizenship, Patriotism, and Identity

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:45 pm-3:14 pm

This course introduces students to fundamental moral questions about countries and individuals’ membership in them. Do people owe more to their compatriots than to foreigners?  Is it desirable – or at least permissible – for countries to have and promote a national identity?  What different forms can patriotism take, and in which (if any) of these forms is it a virtue?  Should we all be “citizens of the world”?  These questions will be explored primarily through readings in contemporary moral and political philosophy.