UDC

124:304

DOI

10.17238/issn2227-6564.2019.1.102

Authors

Ol’ga F. Lobazova
Russian State Social University; ul. Vil’gel’ma Pika 4, str. 1, 129226, Moscow, Russian Federation;
e-mail: lobazovaof@rgsu.net

Abstract

Being an ontological part of Orthodox consciousness, asceticism had over the centuries influenced Russian mentality and secular culture. The Russian practice of state formation and social relations, especially at the turning points and during tragic ordeals, repeatedly updated ascetic norms and principles in the country’s interior. The demand for Orthodox asceticism in contemporary Russian society is rising as the individualistic and predatory attitude to nature leads to adverse environmental consequences while conflicts and aggression in social relations at various levels are growing. Idleness, glorified by the consumer society, damages the economy, undermines policies and devalues culture. The current situation, created as a result of the dominance of vulgar hedonistic norms and complicated by a likely global environmental crisis, requires effective anti-crisis social technologies. One of them can be a programme for improving the quality of life, based on asceticism as the principle of voluntary simplicity and economical use of material and spiritual resources. Simple standards of conduct, constituting the nonreligious aspect of Orthodox asceticism, enable the optimal physiological, psychological and social functioning of a person. Replenishment of the resources of nature, society and man as well as human reintegration into the natural and social processes allow us to, in addition to conserving and possibly restoring the resources, implement the longed-for principle of social justice. As a worldview basis for all kinds of activity and a principle of harmonizing the interests of all social actors, asceticism should be regarded as a possible and desirable philosophical basis for comprehensive social management programmes aimed at improving the quality of life and thus maintaining civic solidarity and cooperation.

Keywords

Orthodox asceticism, secular asceticism, consumer society, resource saving technology

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