UDC

101:17

Authors

Osokin Artem Nikolaevich
Faculty of Law, Vologda State University
korp. 10, 22 Maltseva St., Vologda, 160000, Russian Federation;
e-mail: art_osokin@mail.ru

Abstract

This article provides a brief overview of theories about the interaction between the state and the individual, as well as about a specific sphere of political activity as exemplified by the philosophers of antiquity: Plato and Aristotle. The author studied Plato’s claim that the state is essential for the development of a genuine man, state institutions being a source of ideas about the importance and content of the category of good. Aristotle’s postulate about sociality as a part of the subject’s inherent nature was also analysed. Man and his activities in that context are seen as a direct result of the state’s existence. Further, the author turned to the works of Immanuel Kant as to the correlation between ethics and aesthetics and analysed their relationship with the political thought. The mechanisms and ways of public space formation were revealed, their starting point being the autonomous subject. The freedom of the subject is understood through the analysis of ethical categories. Aesthetics is seen as a starting point for the person’s moral self. Seeing taste as a common sense becomes necessary to start communication. Morality and adherence to its principles is the basis and ultimate goal in life for every individual. Kant merges the aesthetic category of the beautiful and the ethical category of moral good claiming their importance for each person. Turning to modern thought, the author looked at the theory of Kant’s successor Hannah Arendt, who transferred the aesthetic categories of thought to the political sphere. Arendt could not appeal to the heritage of antiquity without turning to Aristotle’s doctrine in particular. The analysis of the above concepts leads to the conclusion that progressive development of the world community is the main motive for entering politics. Moreover, the development of society is the basis for the formation and development of an individual. Thus, the absolute value of human dignity forms the basis for the unmediated character of moral dignity of a person. Philosophizing, therefore, is a result of freedom of thought and equality of people in the public space. The claim that categories of the political should be ethics-mediated is essential in this context.

Keywords

aesthetics, moral principle, judgement, common sense, philosophical way of life

References

1. Markov B.V. Filosofskaya antropologiya [Philosophical Anthropology]. St. Petersburg, 2008. 352 p.
   
2. Rawls J. A Theory of Justice. Harvard University Press, 1971 (Russ. ed.: Rolz D. Teoriya spravedlivosti. Moscow, 2010. 536 p.).