Aristocracy - what is it? Following this question, the following arises. What is it about in a situation where such concepts as “aristocracy” and “aristocracy” are most likely related to the realities of the past? These realities refer, for example, to the Russian monarchical state of the 19th century, in the center of which stood the ruling dynasty and the surrounding court. However, as a principle, aristocracy remained in our lives in a cultural and spiritual sense. This will be discussed.
Extruded to the periphery?
The social upheavals of the twentieth century radically changed the social structure in our country. The class system was canceled. The declaration of democratic freedoms and the concept of equality prevailed. The idea of a civil society came to the forefront, which consists of individuals, equal in rights and participating together in governing the country, determining the ways of its development.
Representatives of the former government in the state, carriers of aristocracy, cultural and social influence were driven out to the periphery. What can our contemporaries have in common with the mentality and lifestyle of the aristocracy?
Spirit of aristocracy
In fact, everything is not so simple. We must not forget that in Western countries aristocracy is still a cultural element of the past, protecting the old traditions. An example is the English telephone booths, which today are no longer used, but no one wants to part with them.
The spirit of aristocracy and the aristocratic moment still largely determine life in the West. Despite the fact that hierarchy and class division with the gradual development of culture are a thing of the past, they, being denied in words, affect the interests and lifestyle of people. Not understanding this deep cultural layer with its historical background, it is difficult not to miss the essential components in building a modern society.
In the narrow and broad sense
In this regard, it must be clarified that such a concept as aristocracy should not be taken in a strictly narrow sense, in which only a privileged layer of the nobility is indicated. In its original meaning, the essence of aristocracy is to describe such a form of organization of society, where ά̓ριστος - "the best" are in the center. The Greek noun ἀριστοκρατία literally means "domination of the best."
This is the power of the most wise, noble and valiant. It implies the alignment of society according to the hierarchical principle, the existence of a semantic vertical line in it, the presence of the orientation of each of its members and the estate of the best. It is assumed that the best are not only those of high origin.
Philosophers of Aristocracy
The problem of aristocracy and aristocracy for philosophical thought has always seemed quite significant. It was studied by Plato, Nietzsche, Berdyaev, Ortega y Gasset and others. All of them considered aristocracy in connection with spirituality, which determined the uniqueness of the aristocracy and was the basis for its exaltation. In Plato, aristocracy lies in the dominance of the rational part of the soul. He considers this quality as inborn, but not as acquired.
Nietzsche believed that at a time when rationalism reigned and a crowd of mediocrity collapsed, aristocracy acts as the main basis for the revival of culture. He is the image of the ladder of ranks, giving the "pathos of distance" and serving the apology of inequality.
Among Russian philosophers, the Nietzsche line is supported by Berdyaev. He also sees in hierarchy the immutable law of life. At the top of the human hierarchy is the aristocrat of the spirit. The philosopher sees his embodiment in the best representatives of the Russian nobility. As for Ortega y Gasset, he clearly speaks of aristocracy precisely as the aristocracy of the spirit. Moreover, regardless of what social group its carrier belongs to.
This phenomenon was criticized by Mandeville in The Fable of the Bees and Montesquieu in his work On the Spirit of Laws.
Aristocracy in art
Each of the members of society involuntarily considers himself regarding the upper classes. And those who are at the top, in turn, experience a desire to match their vocation and to live by the highest score. Thus, the very principle of aristocracy is not directly related to a certain form of government. It can be implemented both in a monarchical and in a democratic state.
Aristocracy in art also implies a semantic hierarchy, a high and grassroots series. It is art works of a high number that are mainly art. It is in them that the “ultimate” task is set for the artist.
It consists in catching the transcendent (that which is not absorbed by experiential knowledge and is not based on experience), to achieve perfect harmony and perfection of forms, to say something essential about the world, God and man. In this regard, aristocracy is a necessary condition for the existence of culture and art. Without his presence, they are doomed to the loss of all meaning and degeneration.
Spiritual aristocracy and elite culture
Elite culture is a culture of privileged social groups. It is characterized by spiritual aristocracy, fundamental secrecy, as well as value and semantic self-sufficiency. According to the culturologist and philosopher I.V. Kondakov, the elite culture is turned to the chosen minority. As a rule, its representatives are both its addressees and its creators.
Elite culture is distinguished by consistent and conscious opposition to the culture of the majority. This applies to all its varieties - historical and typological, such as folklore, folk culture, official culture belonging to a particular class, class or state as a whole and the entire cultural industry of a technocratic society.
Features of the elite culture
A number of philosophers see it as the only one that is capable of preserving and reproducing the basic meanings of culture. It has the following fundamentally important features. Among them:
- Specialization
- Complexity.
- Creativity.
- Innovation.
- The ability to form a transformative, creative consciousness.
- The ability to concentrate the experience of generations - spiritual, intellectual, artistic.
- The presence of a limited value circle, which is recognized as truly “high”.
- A strict system of norms adopted by the community of "initiates."
- The semantic and functional closeness, narrowness, isolation from the whole in the national culture.
The last of the features makes the elite culture a semblance of esoteric, secret knowledge, which is taboo for the rest of the masses. And its carriers turn into “servants of muses”, “priests”, “guardians of faith and mystery”. In an elitist culture, this is often played out and poeticized.
Some signs of aristocracy
If we do not take into account the noble origin, and talk about human manifestations, then the psychological portrait of the modern aristocrat may look as follows.
Aristocracy is manifested in behavior - both at home and in public. It is the inability to go beyond etiquette, even if a person is angry, upset, or feels tired. He is polite and correct in conversation with family members and in communication with colleagues.
He does not splash out accumulated energy and irritation on his home environment, does not shift his own problems and difficulties onto others' shoulders. He prefers to solve everything within himself. He is an opponent of familiarity, familiarity, knows how to keep distance in relationships, protects his personal space. But at the same time respects the personal space of other people. The aristocrat will not allow manifestations of rudeness, rudeness, cheeky behavior towards himself.
Often aristocrats are good educators and teachers. Indeed, among their qualities there are such as high education, curiosity, responsibility, wisdom, nobility, dedication, patriotism.
In addition to the above, the signs of aristocracy in women include: a refined manner of behavior, sophistication, smiling, politeness, calm, quiet voice, inner dignity, modesty in dress and moderation in wearing jewelry.
What is the danger?
However, some dangers lurk in aristocracy. According to psychologists, aristocrats are people with solid attitudes. It is difficult for them to deviate from accepted norms. They are distinguished by strict adherence to a rigid framework of behavior, unshakable values. Therefore, something to change in life, to be rebuilt internally, to evolve is a problem for them.
Another disadvantage of aristocracy is the tendency to communicate only with their own kind. This leads to the compilation of a narrow, selected circle. This forms a certain dismissive attitude towards everyone outside this circle, pride, a sense of superiority may manifest. As a result, such people are moving away from reality.
Aristocrats of the spirit
The concept of "aristocracy" is the idea that power should be the property of the best, excellent, brave. The descendants judge the life of generations precisely by the deeds and actions of such people. At the same time, it is important that the content of excellence, selectivity - both culturally, politically, and in state terms - is constantly changing historically. In different eras, wealth, nobility, military valor were considered as such.
But each era in the cultural sense brings people to the forefront, the main definition of which is "aristocracy of the spirit." These are people who could be rich and noble, but could have neither title nor wealth.
Their chosenness is determined by their talent and self-esteem. The Russian philosopher G. G. Shpet called them "creators of cultural goods." He wrote that any nation is determined by its aristocracy, that is, culture, intelligence, and good breeding.