Should patriotism for humanity be more important than patriotism for one's country?
If you look at the hierarchy of loyalties, then it's fair to say that one shouldn't betray one's country to benefit oneself and one's family.
The same can be said about one's tribe or ethnic group. One shouldn't betray one's country to benefit one's tribe or ethnic group.
And by same logic you can say that one shouldn't betray humanity to benefit one's country.
Because humanity or human species includes all countries and is higher in the hierarchy of groups, just like one's country is higher in this hierarchy than one's family and oneself.
And if you are a patriot of humanity first and foremost, then you would have a problem with serving in the military of any country.
Because in war, strangers typically kill strangers, without any knowledge of what the other guy has done or hasn't done, or if he is even there voluntarily or forced by rules, or military draft, or by some other means.
You can question orders in the military. But you aren't allowed to disobey orders. So, you potentially might have to betray humanity and commit genocide, when ordered to do so.
The military is where you risk becoming a traitor to humanity by being a patriot of one's country.
Posted Aug 4, 2025, 4:24 PM UTC