Leonid Baltovsky, Professor at the SPbGASU Department of History and Philosophy, took part in the scientific discussion "Values ​​as a Philosophical Problem". The discussion took place on 29 March at the St Petersburg University of the Humanities and Social Sciences. Scientists from the Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Sciences presented reports at this event.

We talk to Leonid Vasilyevich about what values ​​are and who forms them.

– Values ​​are a person's response to the moral and aesthetic challenges of history. Aesthetic values ​​are associated with the identification, experience, and creation of harmony. They are associated with a person's ability to have deep, strong, vivid emotional experiences, the ability to perceive many shades of moods and feelings.

Even the ancient Greeks understood harmony as the main quality of the cosmos, which manifests itself as the unity of diversity, coherence, consonance, integrity. Harmonization of a person's relationship with the world, with other people, with oneself causes a feeling of psychological comfort, enjoyment, pleasure. Harmony is experienced with inspiration, giving birth to beauty. These are the things, ideas, meanings for which a person, group, society are ready to create, build or sacrifice. Values ​​do not arise by themselves, they are the result of the spiritual development of humanity. The creators of values ​​are scientists, writers, actors, artists, that is, people of intellectual labor who affirm life through labor. Labor in itself is an important moral value.

– Why are values ​​important?

– Values ​​acquire significance in the orientation of a person's life, help to form a dream and set a goal. They allow one to make the right decisions and find the best options for choosing the means to implement the plan, ensuring mutual understanding in interaction with other people in society, etc.

– What should a person do when his values ​​do not coincide with those of other people?

– To begin with, such a person can be recommended a method that in scientific literature has received the name "the theory of the "mirror 'I'", in which society serves as a kind of mirror. In such a mirror, we can see the reactions of other people to our own behavior. Our concept of ourselves originates precisely in this idea. Observing the reaction of others, a person corrects his idea of ​​what is due, forming in himself the universal human values ​​that we discussed above.

In relation to value orientations, the most important thing is that in the pursuit of the means of life, a person should not lose its purpose and meaning.

– Why is the discussion about values ​​relevant in our time?

– The relevance is caused by the need to preserve and strengthen traditional Russian spiritual and moral values, as well as the need to counter socio-cultural threats to Russia's national security in matters affecting the traditional values ​​of Russian society.

– How do traditional Russian spiritual and moral values ​​differ from universal human values?

– Those that reflect the identity of the Russian people and their spiritual guidelines. According to the decree (Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 809 of 9 November, 2022 "On Approval of the Fundamentals of State Policy for the Preservation and Strengthening of Traditional Russian Spiritual and Moral Values"), traditional values ​​are moral guidelines that are passed down from generation to generation and form the basis of the all-Russian civic identity. These include: life, dignity, rights and freedoms of man; patriotism, citizenship, service to the Fatherland and responsibility for its fate; high moral ideals (however, they are not disclosed in the decree), a strong family, creative work; the priority of the spiritual over the material, humanism, mercy, justice; collectivism, mutual assistance and mutual respect; historical memory and continuity of generations, as well as the unity of the peoples of Russia. While universal human values ​​unite people of all nations, regardless of where they live, and include such concepts as justice, love, and virtue.

– What was said during the discussion that would be worth passing on to students and colleagues?

– Students should respect the cultural and historical heritage of the country. Diligently listen, study history through familiarity with the biographies and activities of outstanding people of the Fatherland. Knowledge of the achievements of great people will contribute to the formation and development of a sense of patriotism, pride and respect for the talents of Russia.

The teacher as a bearer of knowledge plays a key role in the process of forming value orientations of student youth. He is not only the creator of the educational process, but also the bearer of ethical standards, a clear example for students in matters of preserving and strengthening spiritual and moral values.

In adhering to high standards of ethics and morality, a teacher must understand that he is able to embody spiritual values ​​in life through his actions and relationships with others, thereby creating a basis for the formation of similar values ​​in students.

– What conclusions did the participants in the discussion come to?

– Participants in the scientific discussion agreed that more attention should be paid to preserving cultural identity, including traditional values, since the socio-cultural changes taking place in the modern world can negatively affect the unity of multinational and multi-confessional Russia.

The speakers said that traditional values ​​were established, generally accepted beliefs that, in turn, determined the behavior and relationships of people, being the basis for the formation of cultural heritage and the transfer of values ​​from generation to generation. It was said that it was necessary to pay due attention to the upbringing and education of younger generations in the spirit of respect for traditional spiritual and moral values, taking into account the activities of extremist and terrorist organizations, individual media outlets of states unfriendly to Russia.

The speakers noted the spread of destructive ideologies, including the propaganda of egoism, immorality, permissiveness, denial of the ideals of service to the Fatherland and other values ​​that are no less important for strengthening society.

The participants in the discussion emphasized that in order to solve emerging problems in preserving and strengthening traditional values, systematic work must be carried out in the fields of education and upbringing, culture and science, mass media and communications.

Leonid Baltovsky's participation in the scientific discussion was highly appreciated by the Head of the Department of History and Philosophy of SPbGASU Irina Lapina: "I believe that Professor Baltovsky worthily represented the department at such an important event. Our teachers are constantly expanding their scientific horizons and making every effort to cultivate civic consciousness in students and instill correct values ​​in young people."