(Article) Section: General history Author: Gushchin Alexander Anatolyevich Gushchin, A. A. The role of personality in history / A. A. Gushchin // Models, systems, networks in economics, technology, nature and society.
– 2013. – No. 3 (7). – pp. 233–237. The question of the role of personality in history appeared a long time ago, but is still of interest to both professional historians and philosophers in their scientific research, and ordinary people in everyday life.
Many scientists have tried to resolve the issue of the role of personality in history. Often there were completely opposite judgments. As Georgy Plekhanov wrote: “If some subjectivists, trying to assign the broadest possible role to the individual in history, refused to recognize the historical movement of mankind as a law-governed process, then some of their newest opponents, trying to highlight the law-governed nature of this movement as best as possible, were apparently ready forget that history is made by people and that therefore the activities of individuals cannot but have significance in it” [1, p. 311].
Georgy Valentinovich Plekhanov
For historical science, this question is most important for two reasons:
- theoretical. Is the historical process natural? Can individuals influence the course of history, change it, cancel it, or influence the operation of historical patterns? Or are individuals simply fulfilling their historical mission and their actions were determined in advance by the entire course of history?
- practical. How can people change reality and influence future development?
For most people, these questions, at an everyday level, are expressed as follows: “Can I change life?”, “Can I change the world?”, “Is what I do important?”
When analyzing the influence of an individual on society, you need to pay attention to some points:
- the patterns of development of society are not a “track” along which history follows, they are rather “rules of the game”, mandatory for everyone;
— you should not try to find out for all personalities and historical facts the universal relationship between the objective and the subjective. For each historical fact and each person this ratio is different and is determined by both this fact and this person;
— the will of a person, his actions do not appear out of nowhere, they are also historically determined.
If we consider superficially the question of the role of the individual in history, then in a generalized form it can be solved something like this: A person is born and acts in specific historical conditions, in a certain socio-economic environment. Therefore, in general, he thinks and acts in accordance with them. A person can influence the course of history, contribute to the acceleration or slowdown of historical patterns, but cannot cancel their effect.
But if we consider this issue in specific historical facts, then such a generalized explanation cannot fully characterize what is happening or reflect the action of subjective and objective forces.
What the role of the individual depends on: on herself, the historical situation, historical laws, accidents, or on all at once, in what combination and how exactly is difficult. And the answer itself largely depends on the aspect, angle and point of view we have chosen, the period under consideration and other relativistic and methodological aspects [2, p.4].
Since the role of the individual is manifested in specific historical events, phenomena and processes, it is necessary to evaluate it in relation to these historical facts. In addition, it must be taken into account that no individuals are capable of creating great eras if there are no accumulated conditions for this in society [3; p. 26].
To analyze this topic, we can roughly divide it into parts:
1) whether the historical fact is objective or subjective.
2) if a historical fact is subjective, that is, generated by the actions of a person, then under the influence of objective processes or subjective factors the actions of the person himself were generated.
The question of the role of the individual in specific historical conditions is closely intertwined with the question of the role of chance in history. What was caused by objective laws, and what happened due to a confluence of unrelated circumstances?
Therefore, this issue cannot be ignored. In the scientific literature, three factors are identified that influence the development of personality: heredity, environment and upbringing [4; p.7]. That is, in general, the formation of personality is causally determined and natural. However, people are born into different socio-economic conditions. For example, under a monarchical system, heredity and the upbringing of future monarchs often play a significant role.
For example, in the War of the Austrian Succession, French troops won several brilliant victories, and France could, apparently, obtain from Austria the cession of a fairly large territory in what is now Belgium; but Louis XV did not demand this concession, because he fought, according to him, not as a merchant, but as a king, and the Peace of Aachen did not give anything to the French; and if Louis XV had had a different character or if there had been another king in his place, then perhaps the territory of France would have increased, as a result of which the course of its economic and political development would have changed somewhat [1, p.318].
In this case, heredity and upbringing play the role of “random” factors for history. Mirabeau's death, of course, was caused by completely consistent pathological processes. But the necessity of these processes did not arise from the general course of development of France, but from some particular characteristics of the famous speaker’s body and from the physical conditions under which he became infected. In relation to the general course of development of France, these features and these conditions are accidental. Meanwhile, the death of Mirabeau influenced the further course of the revolution and was among the reasons that determined it [1, p. 322].
Personal qualities can have a significant impact on the course of the historical process. For example, how would the Great Patriotic War have ended if Nazi Germany had created an atomic bomb before the end of the war?
At the same time, one should not project a person’s personality, even a significant and outstanding one, equally onto all events in one way or another connected with him, because historical patterns, cause-and-effect relationships, and class worldview do not cease to operate.
Capitalism could not be created by laws - there would be no market, commodity-money relations would not be developed, but it was possible to clear the way for it on time or later than circumstances required.
Speaking about the influence of “great” personalities on history, it should be noted that their actions are determined by the problems facing society. Thus, no one even thought about abolishing serfdom in Russia until it became a brake on the country’s development. But “great” personalities do not simply carry out historical missions. A person can take any action or not. And each person will carry out actions in his own way, although in accordance with the conditions in which this person finds himself.
In search of an alternative to a person or events, we ultimately cannot say whether we would live better or worse now, since it is impossible to calculate the chain of random events.
Personality does not equally influence events, phenomena and processes. The personality has the greatest influence on events - it can radically change, create and stop them. A person can give features to a phenomenon, for example, the features of legislation determine the tax collection system. The influence on processes is manifested in acceleration, deceleration of their action, and giving specificity to a given process. Thus, during the Civil War in the United States, the question of the path of development of capitalism in agriculture was decided. As a result of the Civil War in the United States, not only was slavery destroyed, but the American (farmer) path of development of capitalism in agriculture also won [5; p.120]. And the outcome of the confrontation between North and South was influenced not only by objective factors, but also by the actions of individual people.
Personality affects different areas of life in different ways. So, if this influence on socio-economic development is minimal, then the political structure, which also depends on socio-economic conditions, is influenced more significantly. But the personality has the greatest influence on the spiritual sphere of life, on the mood and ideology of the masses. Considering that all these spheres are interconnected and influence each other (with the determining role of socio-economic development), the personality influences all spheres of life not only directly, but also indirectly through others.
The degree of influence of an individual on historical facts depends, on the one hand, on the nature of these facts themselves, and on the other hand, on the individual’s ability to influence society, his position in this society.
Who can influence the course of the historical process? Krapivensky S.E. understands by a personality influencing the historical process “every individual who takes an active position in life and contributes through his work, struggle, theoretical searches, etc. a certain contribution to the development of one or another sphere of social life, and through it to the historical process as a whole” [6; p. 306]. In our opinion, influence is exerted not only by an active personality, but also by a passive one, since inaction is also an action.
Society as a whole consists of the interaction of all individuals. Therefore, each person can influence historical facts even with the smallest deeds. And the more individuals act and think in the same way, the greater this influence will be. Its degree will, of course, depend on the social status of these people. But in general, quantitative changes will turn into qualitative ones, the sum of the actions of various people will lead to qualitative changes in society.
The actions of an individual influence, on the one hand, society as a whole, and, on the other hand, other, specific people. So, for example, if one person receives a quality education, on the one hand, this will increase, albeit slightly, the indicator of education in society, and on the other hand, it will also affect the environment of this person: it will interest others in education, increasing their level of knowledge.
In general, the development of society occurs according to its inherent laws, which cannot be canceled by the will of individual people. However, a person can significantly influence the course of history. One can agree with the statement of L.E. Grinin that “historical events are not predetermined, therefore the future has many alternatives” [3; p.3].
History is not linear and predetermined, each person influences it and therefore each person is responsible for his actions before history and society.
Bibliography
1. Plekhanov G.V. Selected philosophical works in 5 volumes. T. 2. M., 1956.
2. Grinin L. E. Personality in history: Evolution of views // History and modernity, No. 2, 2010.
3. Grinin L. E. Personality in history: Modern approaches // History and modernity, No. 1, 2011.
4. Lobanova E.A. Preschool pedagogy: educational and methodological manual. Balashov, 2005.
5. Kirillova V. M. New history of Western Europe and America (1870-1914). Penza, 2011.
6. Krapivensky S. E. Social philosophy: Textbook for humanities and social sciences. specialties of higher educational institutions. 3rd ed., corrected and expanded. Volgograd, 1996.
Section: General history Date of publication: 08/23/2013 16:11:13
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The role of personality in history
Problems related to the role of the masses and individuals in history are included in the subject of social philosophy.
Philosophers trying to understand and comprehend the process of world history or the history of individual countries and peoples were faced with the question: what is the driving force of history, what causes and conditions the course and outcome of historical events, rise or decline in the lives of peoples, wars, uprisings, revolutions and others popular movements? At the head of all any significant events are one or another historical figure. These are people with different characters: with great will and determination or weak-willed; insightful, far-sighted, or vice versa.
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Of course, the role of the individual is great due to the special place and special function that it is called upon to perform.
In general terms, historical figures are defined as follows: these are individuals elevated by force of circumstances and personal qualities to the pedestal of history.
The question of the role of personality in history has its roots in antiquity. Already ancient scientists laid the foundation for a tradition according to which the individual and society are considered in close interrelation. But the most fruitful era in solving the question of an outstanding personality was opened by German classical idealism. According to Hegel, the most important distinguishing feature of an outstanding figure is a goal that contains such a universal that forms the basis for the existence of a people or a state. It is the great people who best understand the essence of the matter, and all other people only assimilate this understanding of theirs and approve of it, or at least reconcile themselves with it. All other people follow these spiritual leaders because they feel the irresistible power of their inner spirit. People become great insofar as they want and realize great things, and, moreover, not imaginary and imaginary, but fair and necessary.
Hegel's concept had a great influence on the interpretation of questions about the subjects of history of many philosophical doctrines, including the Marxist concept. Marxists proceed from the position of the decisive role of the masses in history, while emphasizing the ability of the individual to influence the course of the historical process. Marxism removes the extremes of those historical and philosophical positions that overly emphasized either the role of the masses or individuals in the historical development of society. The roles of people and individuals in history are analyzed inextricably linked.
G. Hegel called world-historical personalities those few outstanding people whose personal interests contain a substantial element that constitutes the will of the World Spirit or the Reason of history. They are not only practical and political figures, but also thinking people, spiritual leaders who understand what is needed and what is timely, and lead others, the masses. These people, albeit intuitively, feel and understand historical necessity and therefore, it would seem, should be in this sense free in their actions and deeds. But the tragedy of world-historical personalities is that “they do not belong to themselves, that they, like ordinary individuals, are only instruments of the World Spirit, albeit a great instrument.”
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I.V. Goethe: Napoleon is not only a brilliant historical figure, a brilliant commander and emperor, but above all a genius of “political productivity,” i.e. a figure whose unparalleled success and luck, “divine enlightenment” stemmed from the harmony between the direction of his personal activities and the interests of millions of people for whom he was able to find causes that coincided with their own aspirations.
History is made by people in accordance with objective laws. The people, according to I.A. Ilyin, there is a great divided and scattered multitude. Meanwhile, his strength, the energy of his being and self-affirmation require unity - a single center, a person, a person outstanding in intelligence and experience, expressing the legal will and state spirit of the people.
A historical figure must be assessed from the point of view of how he fulfills the tasks assigned to him by history. A progressive person accelerates the course of events. The magnitude and nature of acceleration depend on the social conditions in which the activity of a given individual takes place.
The very fact that this particular person was nominated for the role of a historical figure is an accident. The need for this promotion is determined by the historically established need of society for a person of precisely this kind to take the leading place. The fact that this particular person is born in a given country at a particular time is purely coincidental.
In the process of historical activity, both the strengths and weaknesses of the individual are revealed with particular sharpness and prominence. Both sometimes acquire enormous social meaning and influence the destinies of a nation, people, and sometimes even humanity.
Since in history the decisive and determining principle is not the individual, but the people, individuals always depend on the people.
The activity of a political leader presupposes the ability to make a deep theoretical generalization of the domestic and international situation of social practice, the achievements of science and culture in general, the ability to maintain simplicity and clarity of thought in the incredibly complex conditions of social reality and to carry out planned plans and programs. A wise statesman knows how to vigilantly monitor not only the general line of development of events, but also many particular “little things”—at the same time he can see both the forest and the trees. He must notice in time a change in the balance of social forces, and, before others, understand which path needs to be chosen, how to turn a ripe historical opportunity into reality.
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G. V. Plekhanov wrote about two conditions, the presence of which allows an outstanding personality to have a great influence on the socio-political, scientific, technical and artistic development of society.
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A charismatic historical figure is a spiritually gifted person who is perceived and assessed by others as unusual, sometimes even supernatural (of divine origin) in terms of the power of comprehension and influence on people, inaccessible to an ordinary person. The bearers of charisma are heroes, creators, reformers, acting either as heralds of the divine will, or as bearers of the idea of a particularly high mind, or as geniuses who go against the usual order of things.
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Weber: the charismatic power of a leader is based on boundless and unconditional, moreover, joyful submission and is supported primarily by faith in the chosenness and charisma of the ruler.
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Two random arguments on the topic “Self-sacrifice, love of neighbor, heroism”
to the Unified State Exam:
1) In literature we often come across heroes, joy, happiness, whose meaning of life lies in the salvation of human souls. Such is Sonechka Marmeladova - the embodiment of eternal humility and suffering of the female soul. A selfless, eternal victim, she, wanting to save the little Marmeladovs from starvation, decides to commit a terrible act for a woman. Eighteen-year-old Sonechka is selling her body, but the disgustingness of street life is not able to reach the depths of her soul, to her inner beauty, since, deciding on this terrible act, Sonechka understood that “faith without works is dead.”
2) Naturalist Evgeniy Mare, who lived among baboons in Africa for three years, once observed how a leopard lay down near the path along which a belated herd of baboons was hurrying to the saving caves: males, females, babies - in a word, sure prey. Two males separated from the herd, slowly climbed onto the rock above the leopard and jumped down at once. One grabbed the leopard's throat, the other grabbed the leopard's back. The leopard ripped open the belly of the first one with its hind paw and broke the bones of the second one with its front paws. But just a fraction of a second before death, the fangs of the first baboon closed on the vein of the leopard, and the whole trio went to the next world. Of course, both baboons could not help but sense mortal danger. But they saved the herd.
Usage example
For example, at the Unified State Exam you received a text by D. Granin on the topic of honor. Using ours, you get the following two arguments*:
1) As you know, A.S. Pushkin died in a duel, fighting for the honor of his wife. M. Lermontov in his poem called the poet “a slave of honor.” The quarrel, the cause of which was the insulted honor of A. Pushkin, led to the death of the greatest writer. However, Alexander Sergeevich retained his honor and good name in the memory of people.
2) A hero with high moral qualities is Petrusha Grinev - a character in A. S. Pushkin’s story “The Captain’s Daughter”. Peter did not sully his honor even in those cases when he could have paid for it with his head. He was a highly moral person worthy of respect and pride. He could not leave Shvabrin’s slander against Masha unpunished, so he challenged him to a duel. Shvabrin is the complete opposite of Grinev: he is a person for whom the concept of honor and nobility does not exist at all. He walked over the heads of others, stepping over himself to please his momentary desires. Popular rumor says: “Take care of your dress again, and take care of your honor from a young age.” Once you have tarnished your honor, you are unlikely to ever be able to restore your good name.
As a result, you have already written most of the essay: 150 words (arguments) out of 200 (the full answer required for the Unified State Exam).
* The selection of arguments for a given topic is done automatically, with each new time you receive a new pair of arguments.
