The Axiological Foundations of the Social in the Philosophy of P.I. Novgorodtsev

The specific feature of P.I. Novgorodtsev’s philosophy of law is that it advocates the fundamental role of society along with the absolute value of the individual. However, the value side of social life is not always specifically thematized by him, although it logically follows from his general axiological attitudes. The social in the doctrine of russian philosopher receives a specific value meaning: firstly, society is a field of interaction between autonomous individuals, secondly, the prerequisites for the formation of society are laid in the absolute value of the individual, thirdly, the social is a collective carrier of social values. The axiology of the social forms important consequences in the understanding of social unities, such as the nation and the state. The combination of the supranational ideal and national values proves to be the basis for Novgorodtsev’s balanced conception of the relation between the individual and the social.