Ideology and philosophy in the problem field of the Russian Civilizational Development Project

(to continue the discussion)

Abstract

The article begins with a brief analysis of the debate on ideology that has recently taken place in The Philosophy Journal and in the journal Voprosy filosofii. While highlighting the original propositions and conclusions voiced during the debate, the author notes its thematic limitations. Ideology today should be considered within a broader social context, primarily in its relationship to the problematic of the project. The article then goes on to examine in detail the evolution of the concepts of project and project activity. A key focus is the analysis of the role of ideology and philosophy in the Soviet period of Russian history. The article highlights the distinctive features and contradictions of party ideology, which had a negative impact on the development prospects of Soviet society. In examining the fundamental novelty of the civilizational project, particular emphasis is placed on historical continuity and its development based on the civilizational matrix of Russian society. The article examines in detail the social responsibility of philosophy, whether academic philosophy should engage in project development, and, if so, how this can be reconciled with its lofty goals and objectives. The article proposes the concept of public philosophy, which acts as a mediator between academic philosophy and the theoretical content of the civilizational project. According to the author, ideology, while remaining a doctrine of the purposeful formation of people’s consciousness, is now beginning to be perceived as a crucial means of understanding the world and realizing the goals and objectives of the project. The relationship between the civilizational project and the national idea is examined. The crucial role of understanding the true logic of cultural development in Russian society is emphasized in creating a fully-fledged civilizational project, which should create a clear understanding of culture in Russia as a multi-component, multi-level, and multi-subject entity.