Philosophy, Its Range of Problems, and Its Role in Society

Philosophy in the System of Culture

No matter how we define culture—whether as a mode of human activity or as a system of values (culture is an exceedingly complex phenomenon, and it is impossible to give it a singular definition)—there is no doubt that philosophy is its most essential part. Not simply a part among others, but the very core of a society’s spiritual culture. It is equally beyond dispute that philosophy itself is a product of culture. Culture existed before philosophy. Moreover, the culture of a given people imprints its character on philosophy, shaping its problems, methods of approach, and its vision of the world.

One need only point to the differences between Western European, Indian, Chinese, and Russian philosophies to grasp the undeniable truth of this claim. Yet, once philosophy emerges, it actively contributes to the transformation of culture as a whole. The influence of ancient Greek philosophy on European, and indeed global culture, has long been emphasized. Since the dawn of philosophy, the development and evolution of various cultures have been shaped in large part by the evolution of philosophy itself. The transition from the Middle Ages to modernity was not driven solely by changes in the structure of productive forces but also by shifts in worldviews, in the representation of the world in human consciousness, and in people’s understanding and evaluation of themselves and their relationship to nature. This shift was largely prepared by the philosophers of France, England, and other European nations.

And there is nothing surprising in this. For philosophy, as has been previously noted, forms the basis of worldview, and this worldview, in turn, is the "soul" of culture. By synthesizing not only the development of science but also the experience of all other forms of human activity, philosophy facilitates the awareness and critical reflection of this experience, establishing certain views, norms, and principles while rejecting others. In doing so, it helps us comprehend culture itself.

As already mentioned, one of philosophy’s most important functions is the elaboration of categories, which are not only forms of scientific thought but also of thought in general—universal forms of culture. These categories are used not only in scientific reasoning (where they are applied consciously) but also in everyday thinking (where they are typically employed unconsciously) to solve problems. And when we consider that philosophy develops not only intellectual but also moral and emotional universals, its immense significance in the cultural system becomes even clearer.

A special discussion is required regarding the relationship between philosophy and humanity's transformative practical activity, especially in reshaping nature and societal relations. This question deserves particular attention in light of Marx’s famous assertion: "Philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways; the point, however, is to change it." In this, Marx considered the most important function of philosophy to be the transformation of the social world of humanity. He explicitly declared that his philosophy should become the spiritual weapon of the proletariat in the remaking of society.

In and of itself, this formula is hardly objectionable. After all, all science, including philosophy, ultimately serves humanity, helping us to understand both the world and ourselves with the aim of transforming them. Yet, as experience has shown, the utilitarian approach to philosophy, its fusion with politics, and its conversion into ideology leads to the dogmatization of philosophy itself, impoverishing its content and reducing it to the role of "handmaiden" to the dominant political forces. This distorts philosophy’s true essence, which is to serve as a tool for the critical and reflective examination of human experience.

In conclusion, it is fitting to recall the words of the Russian philosopher P. Lavrov: “Philosophy, unlike other forms of human intellectual activity, animates them all, imbuing them with human characteristics and rendering them comprehensible to humanity. Without it, science is merely a collection of facts, art is a matter of technique, and life is a mechanical process. To philosophize is to cultivate within oneself the human being as a harmonious, unified essence.”