Identity of Russian Elite in Theory of Y. Samarin
Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Identity Studies, Vienna, Austria, 6-7 September 2016
Posted: 21 Feb 2017
Date Written: September 2016
Abstract
The article deals with topic of identity of Russian intellectual elite according to theory Y. Samarin. Samarin with great attention considered processes in the social and spiritual life of modern Western European elites at the late of XIX – at the beginning XX centuries. Russian philosopher saw the final defeat of the old European rationalism expressed in the form of formal Christian ideology. In the XXI century we observe the partial degeneration of Western Christianity and the emergence in Europe of a new post-Christian civilization and therefore post-Christian elites. This process was developed in the late XIX century. For example, Samarin when he was in Berlin in February 1876, gave in letter the following assessment of German society. He noticed bad condition of German identity. Impervious layers of historical formations, hardened mass of prejudices and misunderstandings oppress the minds and suppress conscience. Nothing proves the impoverishment of moral life of and narrowing of intellectual interests as these two established parties. There is nothing except these parties. They encounter everywhere on these two parties: in parliamentary speeches, sermons, in the new commentary of Bible, in medical journals and in the course of astronomy. However the same situation of degradation of identity was observed in Russian state. We made conclusion that degradation of Russian identity reinforced in the conditions of market economy, postmodernism ideology and developing post-Christian civilization.
Keywords: Identity, Russian Elite, Eurocentrism, Cultural-Historical Type, Cultures Elites, Russia, Europe
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