IT has been written that patriotism is about protecting the land we live in while nationalism is about protecting the way we live. During the 18th century Age of Enlightenment, patriotism was defined as devotion to humanity. For example, providing charity, criticising slavery and denouncing excessive penal laws were all considered patriotic.

Many contemporary notions of patriotism are influenced by 19th century ideas about nationalism. Paul Gomberg, a contemporary scholar of ethics, has compared patriotism to racism. He argues that the primary implication of patriotism in ethical theory is that a person has more moral duties to fellow members of the national community than to non-members. Patriotism is therefore selective in its altruism. Gomberg notes the view (in ethics) that moral duties apply equally to all humans, which is known as cosmopolitanism.