Патріотизм і прихильність як різновиди любові

Abstract

У статті характеризуються основні різновиди патріотизму як любові до своєї країни, особливого відношення до минулого і твердої віри у свій народ. Розкриті відмінності патріотизму від найпростішої, покірливої і непримхливої любові як прихильності.

The article contains information about the essential types and forms of patriotism such as love for homestead and the way of life, love for mother tongue, charity and respectful attitude towards other nations. Another type of patriotism is showing consideration for the history of the country which is an integral part of the national consciousness. The third type is an enthusiastic faith that your country and nation are first-rate. Those types of love are based on human’s reasonable attitude towards reality. But the simplest gentle and easy pleased type of love which the Greeks named Storge (sympathy) is called benevolence. The thing-in-itself is love, but it often transforms into some another type of feeling which creates a special environment with its enrichment and coloring. Benevolence unites completely dissimilar people. At first, it shows how to observe, tolerate. Then it makes people more cordial. And finally, it demonstrates how to respect and value people who are close. The benevolence is modest, easily appeased, and tolerable. It never stops being humble. But there are some controversial qualities which are also inherent in it and can result in both good and evil. It is the most unreasonable type of love. It is possible to be benevolent to everyone so that is the reason why everyone is waiting for being regarded with favor. But the fact that somebody shows sympathy doesn’t mean that we deserve love. The negative attribute of benevolence is sure to be jealousy. The reason of this negative feeling is incapability of this type of love to stand changes. That’s why it is called the most instinctive type of love. The benevolence brings happiness only when it is felt by “decent” people. In other words, to be benevolent is not enough. It is necessary to possess a mind of wide scope as well as to be righteous, kind, tolerant, humble and tender. The love which is above the benevolence should be increasing. If we started to live only in benevolence, it would bring us lots of trouble.