It is patriotism that is an essential element in the development and maintenance of the country. The purpose of this study is to explore the ethical justification for patriotism through a discussion about the ethical justification of patriotism, newly establish concepts and phases of patriotism and find the implications of military moral education.
The development of modern patriotism in the West was newly formed with the emergence of liberalism and republicanism, which has evolved former natural patriotism into the modern enlightened reflective patriotism. Patriotism was clearly based on the modern liberalism and while it was simultaneously political morals overcoming individualism. Modern ideas of patriotism, when the modern liberalism is unlike that of the contemporary, is well represent the assumption of a defect with the community.
Contemporary patriotism is being criticized as a vice, which exclusively pursuits the fundamental interests for political communities that civil rights and freedom are protected and realized. Patriotism is a virtue, on the other hand, it is considered to be a necessary evil vices.
The most demanding patriotism is just army. Soldiers should have a clear view of nation. Because there is no army without nation, and further there can not be found reason for being as soldiers in army. It could be understood as if that soldiers love their nation proves his/her reason for being, Therefore, Patriotism as a soldier is the starting point of self-love and can be said the resulting point in the end.
This study began with the question as the background of what is the meaning of patriotism in ethical perspective. Exploring the ethical justification of patriotism, newly establishing the concept and the status of patriotism and, based on that, finding the implication of the military moral education direction are goals of this study. To do that, I investigated the theoretical background and Interpretational issues of patriotism and examine the discussions of the ethical justification on patriotism by separating of academic system of ethics and the scope of ethical practice. On the basis of the ethical justification about patriotism, I presented educational contents, methods and directions.
This study is focusing on literature research and deploying it. To try to clarify the ethical justification of patriotism, first I investigated the concepts and theoretical background of patriotism by previous studies. As an extension of them, I discussed the rationale of justification of patriotism about academic system of ethics and the scope of ethical practice. I reviewed the rationale of justification of patriotism and the scope of ethical practice about academic system of ethics. First as a deployment methods, I organized the authority and justice of nation for theoretical background and reviewed conceptual definition of patriotism in a comprehensive way. I found to organize the related similar terms about patriotism, before discussing the implementation examples in korean traditional history. Second, I analyzed the an interpretative issues about patriotism. I organized and analyzed the issues of patriotism as moral realistic interpretation and moral values, and the issues of moral interpretation as the position of moral skepticism. Third, I discussed the ethical justification of patriotism. And I classified and discussed a total of four ethical justifications for patriotism - deontological, utilitarian, liberalistic and communitarian justifications.
As a results by classifying the discussion of ethical justification about patriotism, communitarian justification is the most valuable rationale of ethical justification. Because the state is one of the community where we live in such a community. I should think communitarian approach and virtue ethics approach simultaneously.
The essence of ethics and morality is in the internal value. Because they are difficult to distinguish between law and morality if we the three acts presented as external representation. Since it is difficult to distinguish between law and morality if we make an issue of the acts appeared as external representations, it is possible that the virtues such as the loyalty, natural intimacy and unaffected compassion come out and sustain the group in the community. In one’s lives, the virtue is also the starting point of self-love. If the virtue comes out, it could be realized in the community where such a virtue can support. In this sense, a virtue that individuals within the community of nation should have is patriotism.
And also based on the issues mainly investigated so far, I proposed the implications of the military moral education direction for the uplift of patriotism. We can say Where patriotism is most needed is just army soldiers. Because to establish a thorough view of nation and security concept and at the same time to uplift patriotism to the military service members was just moral education, I considered the spirit of patriotism and military moral education. And I investigated the relations of patriotism with military moral education and themselves to look at the position of patriotism in military moral education.
The army is cultivating the sprit of military in order to undergo military moral education, but it is possible that there must be patriotism as the basic background of soldiers. And I also discussed the historical background about patriotism education and military moral education. Depending on the age transition, patriotism educations appeared differently in a country. I analyzed the education contents about patriotism in military moral education.

Finally, I also presented a movie program which meets the tendency for a new generation of military service members to elevate patriotism as the teaching methods. The reason that I proposed the movie program is essential of a clear view of nation for soldiers. Because there is no army without nation, and further there can not be found reason for being as soldiers.
Therefore, it is necessary that soldiers should love for their nation. Namely patriotism. That the soldier love for their nation is to ensure his/her reason for being. Patriotism as a soldier is the starting point of self-love and can be said the resulting point in the end. The military moral education with the program by a movie for military service members can make themselves understand. Furthermore, it can act as a mediator that they can appreciate his comrades, other service members. The audiovisual of film, as a mediator, gives naturally them a consensus to understand themselves or others. And it can contribute to elevate self-love, love for others and even patriotism.
Much previous studies about the patriotism have been reviewed, but this study is the first one to attempt the ethical justification which has a difference from those previous studies. And this is valuable study that I considered the implications of military moral education for uplifting patriotism.