Valerii ALEKSEEV ELEMENTS OF PHILOSOPHIC VIEWS ON THE SOCIAL PROCESSES AND STATE: SOCRATES STUDIES

Issues regarding the governance ideology origins are examined. According to the author’s opinion, the claim that Plato was the first governance ideologist is not sufficiently substantiated, since far before the birth of Plato the Athenian school of philosophy was formed. The founder of this school is a Greek philosopher, mathematician and astronomer Anaxagoras (500 – 428 BC). According to the author, Anaxagoras philosophical ideas set out in the scientific work "On Nature" is the peak of the ancient Greek philosophy period. Due to absence of official documents, we can not doubtlessly claim that Anaxagoras, Anaximander and Anaximenes were the first among the ancient Greek scholars to offer a systematic approach. There are no sufficient arguments to refute the allegation that the governance ideology did not exist at all before the Plato’s researches. However, suppressing details of relationships between the abovementioned scientists, we can not ignore the facts of interrelation between them. Taking into consideration the fact that we use information from scientific sources formed by their followers or other ancient philosophers we can only assume that due to the close connection between mentors and students there appeared the opportunity to prepare a generation of scientists and public figures who have made a significant contribution to philosophy. We should also keep in mind the fact that Socrates (469 - 399 BC) – ancient Greek philosopher, whose teachings marks a shift from materialistic naturalism to idealism was the mentor of an ancient philosophers generation, including Plato – the founder of the academic school; Alcibiades (450 – 404 BC) – Athenian statesman, orator and commander; Antisthenes (435 – 370 BC) – philosopher, founder of the Cynics school; Apollodorus (180 – 120 BC) – writer; Aristippus (435 – 355 BC) – philosopher, founder of Cyrenaic school; Aristophanes (450-385 BC) – poet, author of 44 comedies; Euclid (365-300 BC) – the founder of mathematics, author of scientific papers «The Beginning» (also translated as «The Elements»), founder of Megarian school; Aeschines (389 – 314 BC) – statesman, one of ten known Attic orators; Critias (460 – 403 BC) – Athenian statesman, the author of numerous historical and political treatises; Xenophon (444 – 356 BC) – author of the treatise «Oeconomicus» (also translated as «Economics»); Theaetetus (417 – 369 BC) – mathematician who proved the theorem that there are five polyhedra; Anytus, Aristodemus, Hermogenes, Euthydemus, Epigenes, Critias, Cebes, Crito, Menexenus, Simmias, Phaedo, Hermocrates, Chaerephon and many others. Having reflected the spirit of the whole epoch, Socrates called to life numerous followers and schools, who are known as Socratic schools. The article is devoted to life of the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates. The relationships between Socrates and his students in the process of scientific cognition of social processes that took place in Athens state are studied. On the basis of the analysis of sources, preserved in antique disputation on Socrates, the success favored his supporters, who significantly predominated their intellectual opponents in abilities, number and organization. While discussing various aspects of public, social and private life Socrates transforms the process of truth searching into revelation of the internal universe of the man, in such a manner that the conversation becomes the ordeal for its participants, which requires not only intellectual but moral efforts. By means of his conversations Socrates guided his companion to understanding that so called «human common sense», based upon sensitive evidence, habitual ideas and observations, gives only illusive knowledge – the knowledge of «the last words» and «final truth». While searching for new forms and methods of teaching, in educational establishment, the method applied by Socrates in his philosophical dialogues with his students, is not sufficiently applied. However the practice proved that, providing information to students through the discussion do not lose its actuality. On the contemporary stage of development this method is adequate for searching the answers on difficult questions in particular concerning the administration of ownership in non-stable socio-economic conditions, explanation of the mechanism on establishing close administrative relationships between the state and the society and concerning other urgent issues in the sphere of public administration.