Adam Smith on Impartial Patriotism

Scholars have emphasized Adam Smith's critique of the dangers of patriotism, but have not paid close attention to its potential value. This article recovers from Smith's work an attractive model of patriotism without nationalism. The potential value of patriotism lies in inspiring individu...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Review of politics Vol. 83; no. 3; pp. 329 - 350
Main Author Elazar, Yiftah
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York, USA Cambridge University Press 2021
Subjects
18th century
Cosmopolitanism
Happiness
Impartiality
International division of labor
Mercantilism
Morality
Nationalism
Patriotism
Philosophers
Prejudice
Public interest
Scholarships & fellowships
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:Scholars have emphasized Adam Smith's critique of the dangers of patriotism, but have not paid close attention to its potential value. This article recovers from Smith's work an attractive model of patriotism without nationalism. The potential value of patriotism lies in inspiring individuals to realize an ideal of impartial beneficence, which consists in overcoming selfishness and other subpolity partialities and in promoting the greater happiness of all fellow citizens. Smith defends virtuous patriotism against strong cosmopolitanism by arguing that a global division of labor, which directs individuals to benefit their compatriots, more effectively serves the interests of humanity than directly trying to promote global happiness. This article illuminates aspects of Smith's work that contrast with the “invisible hand” argument and favor the conscious pursuit of public interest in some contexts. It contributes to recent discussions of patriotism a distinctive way of understanding its relation to impartiality.
ISSN:0034-6705
1748-6858
DOI:10.1017/S0034670521000139