author: Svitlana Krylova
Relevance of the research. topic is due to the fact that in times of crisis, especially in a war situation, the need for altruism is actualized. But in authoritarian and totalitarian societies, altruism is reduced to self-sacrifice in the name of the interests of the leader and his environment. Altruism must acquire the features of “smart altruism”, the bearer of which is capable of caring and loving not only for others, but also for himself. This becomes especially relevant for preserving democracy. One of the effective practices for the development of smart altruism is education, which is free from formalism, fanaticism and selfishness.
Problem statement. Important questions are what is altruism and what are the prerequisites for the development of smart altruism? What should be the practices that actualize smart altruism? It can be assumed that education can be one of such practices.
Analysis of recent research and publications. The problem of altruism is studied by modern Ukrainian authors, among whom are Yu. Gumenyuk, K. Lytvynyuk, R. Malynoshevsky, N. Olentsevich, T. Pantyuk, Yu. Pantyuk, A. Ridkodubska, O. Fomina, Yu. Shabanova, and others. Productive approaches to the possibilities of education for the actualization of constructive altruism are found in the works of V. Andrushchenko. The methodology of metaanthropology, developed by N. Khamitov, allows us to understand the metamorphoses of altruism in the existential dimensions of human existence.
Research task. The task of this article is to conceptualize reasonable altruism as one that opposes the project of altruism based on the absolute necessity of self-sacrifice, self-denial. Educational practices help in the actualization of reasonable altruism.
Main material presentation. In the coordinates of metaanthropology, intelligent altruism involves a combination of care and love for the Other with care and love for oneself, which denies the absolute necessity of self-sacrifice. A person helps the Other, but at the same time he or she still has the opportunity for self-development and building his or her life project. Intelligent altruism is possible under the condition of love for oneself, which involves self-creation and self-development. The actualization of intelligent altruism is most organic in democratic societies. In a situation of accepting altruism as an absolutely necessary self-sacrifice, there is no care and love for oneself, which often leads to physical destruction or personal degradation. This is inherent in totalitarian and authoritarian societies, where a person is only a cog in the social mechanism. Education can counteract such depersonalization of a person in distorted altruism.
Conclusions. Intelligent altruism is actualized by education, which forms motivation for self-knowledge and self-development.
Keywords: altruism, intelligent altruism, humanism, self-sacrifice, education, metaanthropology, social metaanthropology, ordinary human existence, boundary human existence, meta-boundary human existence, authoritarianism, totalitarianism, democracy.
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