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Download Article (PDF) Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 468 Proceedings of 5th International Conference on Contemporary Education, Social Sciences and Humanities - Philosophy of Being Human as the Core of Interdisciplinary Research (ICCESSH 2020) Slavophile Tendencies in Post-Soviet Social Thought Yulia Zalozhnych1,* 1Department of Philosophy, Moscow State Regional University, Moscow, Russia *Corresponding author. Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT The article analyzes the development of the basic socio-philosophical ideas of the Slavophiles in post- Soviet social thought. The main goal is an identify the existence of the Slavophile trend and its relevance in the realities of modern Russian society. The author highlighted three thematic blocks of social and philosophical views of the Slavophiles: issues about statehood and power, ideas about the Russian nationality and community, and a body of thought devoted to the Orthodox faith and the church. Relating the ideas of the Slavophiles with the Russian public discussion of the last decades, the author revealed those of them that are the most relevant today. Also, Slavophil ideas were identified that underwent transformation in accordance with the realities of the time. In addition, the article lists representatives of the Russian scientific community, politicians, public figures, economists, journalists, and the cultural and creative elite who, calling themselves supporters of Slavophile-soil ideas in modern Russia, transmit and defend views that are close to them. Keywords: Slavophiles, society, relevance, state, nationality, Orthodoxy, followers The topic of identity received serious reflection for the I. INTRODUCTION first time in Russian philosophy, starting from Pyotr After the collapse of the Soviet Union, our country Chaadayev's "The Philosophical Letters" and the further entered into a new historical stage. Laying the vectors debate about them between the Slavophiles and of further civilizational development, Russian society Westerners. had to look for ways to overcome the crisis that had At the beginning of the XIX century the Slavophiles arisen in the economy, in political and public were among those few thinkers who raised the issue of administration and in relations in the international the need for national self-reflection. The Slavophiles arena. comprehended Russian culture and society, relying on With this impact on all the main spheres of human the preservation and cultivation of the Orthodoxy life, there came significant changes in mentality and values, and advocated for refusing to passively copy the morality in Russian society. At present, we are witness spiritual foundations of other countries [1]. to the destruction of the basic values of the family, the In the present the Slavophile heritage can become a levelling of national traditions, the surge of hedonism philosophical base and help determine the future as a way of life, the growth of the consumerism cult, direction of Russia's development and overcome the profit and an idle lifestyle. current crisis through reliance on the national The culture's issues, the loss of moral and spiritual foundations of the society's organization "to then guidelines, a decrease in the level of patriotism - all this develop these principles, while taking from the West all has become a significant focal point in the discussions its positive achievements" [2]. of recent decades. The comprehension of the tasks of The thinkers tried to show that through awareness of education and upbringing, the search for the identity their identity, Russia can reveal its internal potential and unity of society also did not diminish their urgency and uncover opportunities. This requirement of and acuteness. preserving one's own specificity during the When looking for answers to the questions posed, it modernization of various areas of human life allows us is fundamentally important not to abandon the already to characterize this trend as both a theoretical basis and accumulated intellectual heritage of past eras. A special an attempt to search for another way for Russian place in the Russian social thought is occupied by the society to develop in a framework of conservatism. philosophical trend of the Slavophiles, original and If in the 1990s the most popular direction in Russian extraordinary thinkers of the 19th century. The impulse public discourse was Westernism, the main ideas of given by them has survived to this day, giving rise to which were adopted for practical implementation in an new discussions and causing a wide public resonance. ultra-extreme version [3], then in recent decades the Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Atlantis Press SARL. This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license -http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/. 71 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 468 emphasis of social self-reflection has shifted. Classical Orthodoxy, should develop within the Slavophilism and its various modifications (especially framework of the Orthodox culture. Pochvennichestvo) are beginning to take on special significance. As such, ideas that are similar in content The people, having their own historical mission, to those offered by the Slavophiles can be found today voluntarily withdraws from power relations and in people of various professions and fields of activity politics, passing it on to one person. Hence, the (scientists, political and public figures, economists, best form of power for Russia is the monarchy writers, journalists, directors, artists, musicians, and [6]. others) who include them in their intellectual creativity A ruler, clothed with power, must have high and use them in programs and strategies in evaluating morality and spirituality, perceive power as a current events. burden that requires internal strength and As the achievements of the Slavophiles actively perseverance. appeal to the discourse and interests of the Russian The historical form of Russian statehood public, this allows us to talk about the relevance of their (especially after the reforms of Peter I) is ideas in the realities of the present. From here, significantly different from the exemplary and hypothetically we can state the formation of a certain has many vices that require eradication Neo-Slavophile line in the Russian public thought in (bureaucracy, bribery, nepotism, etc.). recent decades. Along with strong power, the Slavophiles put The philosophical heritage of the Slavophiles is forward the idea of resuming the convocation of diverse. The thinkers left behind a significant ideas: Zemsky Sobors as an openly proclaimed public socio-political views, ideas on the philosophy of opinion and the development of forms of self- history, epistemology, cultural studies, theology, a organization of the people traditional for sufficiently developed philosophical and Russian culture (Zemstvo, veche assemblies), anthropological concept, groundwork on pedagogy, etc. which form a union of people and power. At the same time, the Slavophiles opposed the adoption II. THE IDEAS OF SLAVOPHILES ABOUT of the constitution, considering it unnecessary STATEHOOD IN MODERN PUBLIC RUSSIAN and even dangerous at this stage of the country's THOUGHT historical development [7]. We would like to analyse only the socio- Analysing the Slavophilic ideas that are widespread philosophical views of thinkers. today in Russian society, it can be noted that many of the above voiced views are present in public discourse. The socio-philosophical heritage of the Slavophiles, presented today in a public discussion, can be divided The idea of a strong, centralized power, into three thematic blocks: statehood and the issues of approaching in its characteristics to autocracy is the power, ideas about the Russian nationality and most popular among them. Representatives of the community and a body of thought devoted to the Russian Monarchist Social Movement have the greatest Orthodox faith and the church. similarity in views with the Slavophiles on this issue, the program principles of which speak of the Orthodox It should be noted that the Slavophile thinkers left monarchy, based on morality and religious principles, behind a fairly developed body of ideas about power, the purpose of which is to serve the Russian people [8]. politics and statehood in Russia. Among them, the Director N. Mikhalkov, scientists M.B. Smolin, L.P. following can be noted: Reshetnikov and V. Karpets, historian O. Platonov, State power is a special kind of contractual writer M. Weller, Orthodox publicist V. Filimonov, relationship. Being, according to the ideas of the artist I. Glazunov, scientist F.Ya. Shipunov call Slavophiles, only an empty mechanical form, it themselves supporters of the monarchy in Russia [9]. requires filling with valuable content and For strong centralized power with an expansion of morality [4]. management powers is supported by scientists N. The state is a necessary and obligatory Narochnitskaya, V. Katasonov and A. Schipkov, TV component of a public life, allowing to presenter Z. Prilepin, actor I. Okhlobystin, journalist M. consolidate the forces and aspirations of the Leontyev, politician E. Fedorov, writer A. Prokhanov people, as well as performing security and and others [10]. Most of them also uphold the need for organizational functions [5]. a strong moral component in characterizing the ruler and perceive the power not as a means to realize The state, standing in the value hierarchy of the
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