A socio-philosophical analysis of the genesis and functioning of alternative value systems within the structure of modern society

Abstract

Background. In the context of contemporary social transformations and value crises, the study of the historcal evolution of social personality types becomes particularly significant. The aim of the work is to identify patterns in the formation of social personality types and their corresponding value systems during the transition from primitive to civilized society, as well as to analyze their trans-formation across different historical stages. Materials and methods. The research is based on a comprehensive socio-philosophical analysis using civilizational and historical-typological approaches. The primary methodological framework is the subjective-activity approach, which ex-amines personality through three interrelated criteria: socio-class affiliation and relation to prop-erty, professional activity, and life-meaning orientations. Comparative-historical and structural-functional methods were also employed. Results. The evolution from natural differentiation of personality to socio-class typology was revealed. Basic social types for major historical epochs were established: for antiquity – slave owner, free commune member, slave; for the Middle Ag-es – feudal lord, knight, peasant, religious figure; for capitalism – a complex professional-class typology. Corresponding systems of alternative values for each epoch were identified, showing their dependence on the individual's social position. The dominance of individualistic and consumer values in modern society was revealed. Conclusions. The determining role of the socio-economic structure of society in shaping personality types and value systems is proven. It is established that the dominance of individualism and consumerism in modern capitalist society leads to social disintegration and a spiritual crisis. As a constructive alternative, a value system based on the principles of solidarity, humanism, and social justice is proposed, which holds particular relevance for modern Russia.