Artemov, V.M. Mutual assistance as a priority value in the ethics of P.A. Kropotkin: the experience of actual reconstruction

Abstract: From the standpoint of needs and requests of the modern society facing deep moral crisis, the author evaluates the scientific and humanistic concept of P.A. Kropotkin. The 170th anniversary from the date of his birth was celebrated by the progressive society quite recently. The global fame of Kropotkin mostly has to do with the selfless devotion and theoretical and practical efforts for the development of positive understanding of human being and his capabilities for development and improvement of the social whole. Great theoretical and prognostic force of his ideas is much due to the substantiated and convincing proof of the value of mutual assistance as a priority value. It was supported and expressed in the life of the great Russian thinker and public figure. Harmony of freedom and morality seems to be an indicator of consistency of his personal being. The basis for the position of the author is that mature freedom presupposes a moral dimension. That is why we regard responsibility as the reverse side of freedom. This approach allows for the deeper understanding and solution of the problem of correlation among freedom, morality and law. The well-known critical attitude of the representative of the Russian classical anarchism towards the state does not exclude recognition of achievements and capabilities of law, which is really based upon the moral fundament and facilitates the development of the freedom potential in the justly established society. The creative input of the philosopher has its perspectives for the spiritual revival of the modern human being, improvement of society as a whole and some of its institutions, including law.

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