S. I. Dudnik as a Historian of Political Thought

Abstract

The article is devoted to the work of the famous scholar, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor S. I. Dudnik, Head of the Department of the History of Philosophy and Director of the Institute of Philosophy of St. Petersburg State University. The most important provisions of his concept of the history of political thought, the formation of Russian statehood, the principles of constitutionalism and the rule of law are considered. In his works, he focused on the need for a synthesis of historical-philosophical, socio-cultural and axiological studies. The views of S. I. Dudnik on the theoretical foundations and humanistic aspects of the political philosophy of classical and Soviet Marxism, the features of the ideology of socialism and conservatism, the prerequisites for the “totalitarian mutation” of the Soviet society. The article also examines the works by S. I. Dudnik devoted to the traditions of philosophical education at St. Petersburg University. These include receptivity to everything relevant and progressive in world philosophy, a close connection with classical domestic and world philosophy, the development of a methodology for politics and political culture. It is shown that the scholar analyzed the St. Petersburg experience of the modernization process through the development of scientific knowledge in Russia during the eighteenth — twentieth centuries and the formation of science as a social institution in the life of Russian society. A special place in Russian science is occupied with the research by S. I. Dudnik of the transformation of education in the digital age, the modern Russian education system. The article emphasizes that Professor S. I. Dudnik is a worthy representative of the St. Petersburg philosophical school, a successor to its best traditions; under his leadership, the Institute of Philosophy of St. Petersburg University has consolidated its position as the flagship of domestic philosophical research, one of the centers of world philosophy.