Idealism, State and Nation – An Introduction

In the present, a world of upheaval and challenges, the question of the meaning of patriotism takes on a new urgency. This book is devoted to a topic that is as fascinating as it is complex: German idealism and its relationship to patriotism in difficult times.

The history of Germany is marked by ups and downs, by moments of pride and shame. The discussion about patriotism also moves within this field of tension. How can we develop a positive connection to our country in a globalized world without falling into nationalism or blanket exclusion? What role do the ideas of the German idealists play in this context?

This book attempts to shed light on these questions, drawing a line from the philosophy of German idealism to the present. It is about painting a differentiated picture of patriotism that neither falls into uncritical glorification nor into blanket rejection.

In the following pages we will examine the thoughts of philosophers such as Kant, Fichte and Hegel and examine how their ideas have shaped our understanding of the state, nation and individual responsibility. We will analyze how the concept of patriotism has changed over the course of German history and what lessons we can learn from this for the present and, above all, our future.

The aim is not to provide ready-made answers, but rather to stimulate thought and promote constructive debate. At a time when dictatorial-globalist movements are gaining strength worldwide, it is more important than ever to critically engage with questions of national identity.

My book is aimed at everyone who is interested in the intellectual roots of German patriotism and is looking for ways to deal responsibly and thoughtfully with love of country in the present day. It is an invitation to critical dialogue and self-reflection.

Let us go on a journey together through the world of thought of the German idealists and gain new perspectives on the challenges of our time. Because only when we understand where we come from can we consciously decide where we want to go.

The question of the nature of patriotism is as old as the idea of the nation itself. In Germany, a country with a turbulent history, this question takes on a particularly explosive character. The German idealists, those thinkers who worked at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, made a significant contribution to shaping our understanding of the state, society and individual responsibility. Their ideas form the starting point for a consideration of patriotism that goes far beyond simplistic black-and-white painting.

Immanuel Kant, one of the most influential philosophers of the Enlightenment, laid the foundation for a cosmopolitan way of thinking with his idea of "world citizenship" that nevertheless did not negate the importance of the nation state. In his essay "On Perpetual Peace" he outlined a vision of a world order in which sovereign states coexist in a peaceful union. Kant saw enlightened patriotism as a virtue that enables the individual to serve both his nation and humanity as a whole.

This idea of a reconciliation between national consciousness and universal values was to shape subsequent generations of German thinkers. Johann Gottlieb Fichte, a student of Kant, went a step further in his "Speeches to the German Nation". At a time of Napoleonic occupation, he appealed to the German people to reflect on their cultural and intellectual uniqueness. Fichte's patriotism was not narrow-minded nationalism, but rather an attempt to move the Germans towards moral and intellectual renewal.

Fichte saw in the German language and culture a special potential for realizing the ideals of the Enlightenment. His appeal to "Germanness" was not intended as a demarcation from other nations, but as a call for self-perfection in the service of humanity. This idea of "cultural patriotism" was to have a great influence on German self-image in the decades that followed.

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, the third of the great German idealists, developed a differentiated view of the state and civil society in his philosophy of law. For Hegel, the state was more than just a necessary evil to secure individual rights. He saw in it the realization of the moral idea, the place where freedom and necessity, individual and community come together in a synthesis.

Hegel's understanding of the state was certainly patriotic, but in a reflective sense. He recognized the importance of national identity, but at the same time warned against the dangers of excessive nationalism. For Hegel, true patriotism was not blind loyalty and obedience, but conscious participation in state and social life, combined with a willingness to reflect critically.

These ideas of the German idealists form the starting point for a view of patriotism that goes far beyond simplistic black-and-white painting. They show that love of country and cosmopolitanism, national identity and universal values do not have to be irreconcilable opposites.

But how can these ideas be applied to the present? Germany is currently part of the European Union and is facing completely new challenges in a globalized world - thus the question of contemporary patriotism is becoming more relevant.

German history in the 20th century has shown the catastrophes that unleashed nationalism can lead to. The experiences of National Socialism have had a lasting impact on Germany's relationship to patriotism. After 1945, a culture of restraint with regard to national symbols and patriotic expressions of feeling developed in the Federal Republic. Constitutional patriotism, as propagated by the philosopher Jürgen Habermas, offered an alternative to traditional national pride: an identification with the democratic values of the Basic Law rather than with ethnic or cultural categories.

This form of patriotism undoubtedly contributed to Germany growing into a stable democracy after the horrors of the Second World War. But in recent years, voices have been growing that call for a redefinition of German self-image. In an increasingly fragmented and condescending society, a positive narrative of national identity is needed to strengthen cohesion and the survival of one's own identity.

The challenge is to develop a patriotism that neither falls into uncritical self-congratulation nor into blanket self-denial. It is about finding a balanced relationship with one's own nation that both appreciates the achievements and recognizes the dark sides of history.

Such a reflective patriotism can draw on a number of the best traditions of German intellectual history. It can uphold the ideas of the Enlightenment without denying the cultural peculiarities. It would be open to development and change without negating the importance of continuity and cohesion within the nation.

In practice, this could mean being proud of the achievements of German scientists, artists and thinkers without falling into cultural arrogance. It would mean appreciating the achievements of the German welfare state without denying the need for reforms and corrections. It would be about cultivating the German language without dismissing other languages as inferior.

A contemporary German patriotism would also have to consider the reality of immigration and the absorption of new influences, accept them in accordance with applicable law and correct them whenever necessary. Germany was and is a country in which people of different origins can and should live together peacefully and constructively. This situation can enrich our culture and our daily lives. An inclusive patriotism can see this diversity as an enrichment and at the same time find unifying elements. This has been proven for many years in the recent past. Giving up one's own culture and elevating foreign values and customs above one's own inevitably leads to the death of one's own culture and its values. Patriotism that deserves this name has the right to defend itself at all times and to protect its own values. Its task is to defend itself against violent elimination of any form and to ensure its natural change and thus its survival.

European integration represents an immense challenge to the traditional concept of patriotism. But here too, the ideas of the German idealists offer starting points. Kant's vision of a peaceful world order of sovereign states can certainly be read as an intellectual anticipation of a European Union in the original sense. An enlightened patriotism in the 21st century must be able to create national and European identities as complementary, not contradictory.

Globalization and the associated changes in the economy and society have led to uncertainty and fear. In this context, populist and socialist movements are gaining ground. They promise simple answers to complex questions and often use rhetoric that is reminiscent of the darkest times in German history. The distortion of terminology and even the banning of opinions are and will remain methods of dictatorial systems. This also includes the suppression of national customs and ideals.

A reflective patriotism is an antidote to these tendencies. It will take people's legitimate concerns seriously without falling into self-destruction or isolationism. It would recognize the importance of national sovereignty without denying the need for international cooperation.

The question of what such patriotism might look like in practice is the subject of lively debate. Some voices argue for a more open approach to national symbols, for example at sporting events or official occasions. Others see the strength of German patriotism precisely in its restraint and warn against a return to traditional forms of national self-expression. Nevertheless, it remains undisputed...