Жамият
ва
инновациялар
–
Общество
и
инновации
–
Society and innovations
Journal home page:
https://inscience.uz/index.php/socinov/index
The development of democratic society and spiritual renewal in
the views of eastern and western thinkers
Turdiev BEKHRUZ
1
Researcher of Bukhara State University,
ARTICLE INFO
ABSTRACT
Article history:
Received September 2020
Received in revised form
15 September 2020
Accepted 25 September
2020
Available online
1 October 2020
Today, without an in-depth and comprehensive analysis of
various ideas and views on spiritual renewal in the development
of society, without drawing appropriate conclusions and lessons
from them, we can not move from national revival to the greatest
goal of national revival. This article deeply examines the
scientific and philosophical views of great thinkers – our
forefathers, scholars and public figures of different periods on
the spiritual development of society.
2181-1415/© 2020 in Science LLC.
This is an open access article under the Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY
4.0) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.ru)
Keywords:
Heritage
Spirituality
Philosophy
Civilization
Zoroastrianism,
“Aphorisms”
Moral
Customs
social progress
civil society
enlightenment
Freedom
Дeмократик жамиятнинг ривожланиши ва маънавий
янгиланиш шарқи ва ғарбий муфофкаларнинг кўришида
АННОТАЦИЯ
Калит Сўзлар:
Мерос
Маънавият
Фалсафа,
Цвилизация
Зардуштийлик
“Афоризмлар”
Жамият
тараққиётида
маънавий
янгиланишлар
тўғрисидаги турли ғоя ва мавжуд бўлган қарашларни чуқур
ва атрофлича таҳлил этмай, улардан тегишлича хулоса ва
сабоқ чиқармай туриб, миллий тикланишдан миллий
юксалиш улуғ мақсад сари бора олмаймиз. Ушбу мақолада
турли даврдаги буюк мутафаккир- аждодларимиз, аллома
1
Researcher of Bukhara State University, Uzbekistan, Bukhara city
e-mail:
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Ахлоқ
Урф-Одатлар
Фуқаролик Жамияти
Маърифат
Эркинлик
ва
жамоат
арбобларининг
жамиятнинг
маънавий
ривожлвниш ҳақидаги илмий-фалсафий қарашлари чуқур
тадқиқ этилган.
Развитие
демократического
общества
и
духовное
обновление в взглядах восточных и западных мыслителей
АННОТАЦИЯ
Ключевые-слова:
Наследие
Духовность
Философия
Цивилизация
Зороастризм
“Афоризмы”
Нравственность
Обычаи
Традиции
Гражданское общество
просвещение
Свобода.
Не проанализировав идеи и взгляды о духовном
обновлении имеющих значение в развитие общества, не
сделав для себя выводов, мы не сможем достичь такой цели
как “От национального возрождения к национальному
прогрессу”. В данной статье анализируются научно-
философские взгляды великих мыслителей-наших предков,
учёных
и
общественных
деятелей
живших
в
различные исторические периоды.
INTRODUCTION
Spiritual renewals are the historical and philosophical process associated with the
objective assessment, understanding and rational use and development of the people’s
past, cultural and spiritual heritage, national and universal values. In this process, if the
people are unaware of their history, national culture, values, spiritual heritage, there will
be no clear vision of the past, no specific strategic goal for the future, no desire to mobilize
on this path to unity. It can be seen that the process of spiritual renewal of society and
people is inextricably linked with each other. This means that the social, economic and
political development of a society is impossible without certain spiritual factors.
In our opinion, the renewal of national spirituality has also contributed to the
development of relations between peoples. The nation, which understood itself justly, was
valued by other nations as well, and tried to strengthen equal, friendly relations with them.
For this reason, the wise thinkers and famous scholars of the people in their efforts to raise
the national spirituality have recognized that respect for other peoples, the establishment
of friendly relations with them is an important spiritual factor in the development of the
country.
The philosophical heritage of the peoples of Central Asia has made a significant
contribution to the history of world philosophy. The philosophy of these peoples is
distinguished not by such antiquity as the philosophy of ancient India, China, Egypt,
Greece, but by the evolution of philosophical and religious ideas that have strongly
influenced the spirituality of peoples of the world in their development.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In writing this article, the methods of comparative analysis, generalization,
comparison, analysis, synthesis, historical, сorrelation of knowledge were used. The article
also relied on the principles of objectivity and systematicity.Therefore, it is expedient to
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conduct a scientific analysis of the role of spiritual renewal in the development of society
on the basis of examples from the works of ancient Eastern and Western philosophers. No
wonder the East has long been described as the center of spirituality and civilization.
The philosophers of the ancient East put forward many unique ideas in the concepts
of spiritual growth, self-awareness and perfection, especially in the philosophy of
Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Confucianism.
DISCUSSION AND RESULTS
The noble ideas of the ancient Zoroastrian philosophy of peoples of Central Asia play
a special role in the spiritual development of society. It embodies the spirituality, culture,
customs and traditions, moral values of the ancient peoples of Central Asia. It promotes
the ideas of peace and stability, which serve the spiritual revival of society, and the
perfection of human beings in honest work with one another. In Zoroastrian philosophy,
“Those who want light for others will have light. In the light of truth, bestow upon us Your
enlightenment from the Good Intentions, so that we may enjoy every moment, every hour,
every day of our lives”[1. –P.52] or “It is necessary to strive for the prosperity of the world,
to preserve it with kindness and to bring it to light” [1. –P.120] such ideas have not lost
their relevance today. The values associated with Zoroastrian ideas, which in his time
played an important role in encouraging the people to the ideas of goodness and justice,
the formation of living traditions, the development of agriculture and urban culture, still
play a significant role in defining the peculiarities of our people’s way of life.
The views of Confucius (551-479) have a special place in the history of socio-
philosophical thought in ancient China. The philosopher made a great contribution to the
development of socio-philosophical thought in ancient China. His “Aphorisms” are an
integral part of the spirituality of the peoples of the world. In his philosophical views, he
argues that every member of society is involved in spiritual renewal, that human life
depends on destiny, and that if a person strives for noble goals, he will surely be blessed
with wealth and glory. In his philosophical views, he argues that each member of society is
involved in spiritual renewal, that human life depends on destiny, and that if a person
strives for noble goals, he will surely be blessed with wealth and glory.
In the philosophical views of the Confucius, moral issues occupy a central place.
Confucius, relying on the customs, rituals and teachings of the ancient ancestors, said that
the fame of the ancestors raises their descendants, the true foundation of society, the need
to restore and follow ancient customs, rituals, traditions to further strengthen the
foundation [2. –P.9].
Today, the expediency of the teachings created by Confucius can be seen in the
spiritual and enlightenment reforms in our country on the restoration of ancient customs,
traditions, national ceremonies and holidays, the historical memory of our ancestors.
Although the first socio-philosophical ideas in human civilization first originated in the
East, they have literally reached their peak in the West, especially in Ancient Greece and
Rome. Socio-philosophical ideas in ancient Greece stand out in this regard.
Representatives of the philosophical school founded by Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle in
ancient Greece, their views on the spiritual renewal of society served not only in the West
but also in the rise of Eastern philosophy.
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Socrates (469-399 BC) was one of the philosophers who drastically changed the
development of philosophy, despite the fact that he was an irrational man in Greek
philosophy and did not write anything during his lifetime.
The being called human, is somehow not what it is but what it should be, not a
completion but volition, not a success reached but a promise, an attempt. This desire for
self-realization and self-completion is the essence of human being (Versenyi, 2007: 135-
136). However, in order to release this potential power he needs to be enlightened by the
instructive light of knowledge. In this context, according to Socrates, education helps the
seeds of good will grow inside human.
Socrates tells that: “If to me as I am the son of a midwife and that I understand the art
of midwifery, and try to give the best answer possible to my questions. My art of midwifery
is in general like theirs; the only difference is that my patients are men, not women, and
my concern is not with the div but with the soul that is in travail of birth” [3. –P.4485]. In
this context, the task of the educator according to Socrates is not conveying knowledge to
the learner but disclosing the existing internal knowledge. According to Socrates
knowledge is attained not through conveying knowledge but through research and this
research lasts for the life. Keeping in our minds that Socrates calls himself not a wise man
but a philosopher, it should be noted that the pursuit of knowledge and the search for
knowledge is a lifelong process.
The great scientist, philosopher, and art historian who left an indelible mark on the
history of world philosophy was Plato (428/427 or 424/423 BC - 348/347 BC). Plato’s
teachings on society and the state are central to his worldview. Plato’s teachings on society
and the state are central to his worldview. Plato wrote works on socio-political issues
called “State”, “Laws”, “Politics” and “Republic”.
In his work “Republic”, where Plato offers a theory about how art affects the soul and
forms character in ways that people are often not aware of. If you are designing an ideal
society, as Plato does in the Republic, and contrasting it with the corruptions of existing
societies, as he also does in the Republic, then you need to think about much more than
political institutions in a narrow sense. You need to think about all the influences, all the
ideas, images, and practices, that make up the culture of a society [4. –P.217].
On the basis of Plato’s dream about an ideal state lies the idea of Justice. According to
Plato, the obedience of all members of society to the laws of a just society is the main
guarantee of social progress. According to Plato, the obedience of all members of society
to the laws of a just society is the main guarantee of social progress.
Aristotle (384-322 BC) was a great philosopher who amazed the world with his
encyclopedic heritage and was recognized in the East as the “First Master” for his scientific
and philosophical ideas. Aristotle’s views on the rise of society stand at the center of the
doctrine of the scientist. The philosopher’s views on the development and progress of
society are analyzed in such works as “State”, “Rhetoric”, “Politics”, “Physics”.
The philosopher writes in “A Treatise on Government”: Since in every art and science
the end aimed at is always good, so particularly in this, which is the most excellent of all,
the founding of civil society, the good wherein aimed at is justice; for it is this which is for
the benefit of all. Now, it is the common opinion, that justice is a certain equality; and in
this point all the philosophers are agreed when they treat of morals: for they say what is
just, and to whom; and that equals ought to receive equal: but we should know how we are
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to determine what things are equal and what unequal; and in this there is some difficulty,
which calls for the philosophy of the politician[5. –P.127].
Therefore, different political systems replace each other and new ones emerge. Even
if the state changes, the people will not change, they will remain the same, only the form of
government will change: Everything comes into being for the sake of an end. An end is that
which always appears as the final result of a development, in accordance with natural law
and by a continuous process, and in which the process attains its completion. Thus in the
process of becoming the mental is later than the physical, and in the mental realm the
intellectual element in its pure form is again the later [6. – P.75].
However, the goal of the human community should not only be to live, but to be
higher, that is, to live happily, so the goal of the state is to create a happy life. Thus, the task
and goal of the state is to create a happy life for families and many generations: “Chance
and what results from chance are appropriate to agents that are capable of good fortune
and of moral action generally. Therefore necessarily chance is in the sphere of moral
actions. This is indicated by the fact that good fortune is thought to be the same, or nearly
the same, as happiness, and happiness to be a kind of moral action, since it is well-doing”
[7. –P.28].
Aristotle said that justice is a common happiness, but it must conform to the just parts
of the common good: We may define happiness as prosperity combined with virtue; or as
independence of life; or as the secure enjoyment of the maximum of pleasure; or as a good
condition of property and div, together with the power of guarding one’s property and
div and making use of them. That happiness is one or more of these things, pretty well
everydiv agrees. From this definition of happiness it follows that its constituent parts
are: good birth, plenty of friends, good friends, wealth, good children, plenty of children, a
happy old age, also such bodily excellences as health, beauty, strength, large stature,
athletic powers, together with fame, honor, good luck, and virtue. A man cannot fail to be
completely independent if he possesses these internal and these external goods; for
besides these there are no others to have (Goods of the soul and of the div are internal.
Good birth, friends, money, and honor are external). Further, we think that he should
possess resources and luck, in order to make his life really secure. As we have already
ascertained what happiness in general is, so now let us try to ascertain what of these parts
of it is [8. – P.19-20].
Based on the above, it should be noted that in the socio-philosophical views of ancient
Eastern and Western thinkers, the issues of the spiritual uplift of society and man are
leading. The masterpieces of spiritual heritage by great thinkers and philosophers are
remarkable today, as they appeal to the whole of humanity.
The 18
th
century was a period of renewal of Enlightenment in the history of world
philosophy. The spiritual and enlightenment views of such enlighteners as John Locke[9.–
P.3115], David Hume [10.–P.483], Voltaire [11.–P.173], Jean-Jacques Rousseau [12.–
P.636], Ch.L.Montesquieu [13.–P.706] were of great importance in the development of
European enlightenment ideas.
John Locke (1632-1704) was an English philosopher and the founder of liberalism.
Locke's ideas played a major role in the history of European philosophical and socio-
political thought. He outlines a new theory of mindcontending that the gentleman’s mind
was a
tabula rasa
or “blank slate”;containing no innate ideas. The treatise explains how to
educate that mind using three distinct methods: the development of a healthy div; the
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formation of a virtuous character; and the choice of an appropriate academic curriculum.
Locke attempts to popularise several strands of seventeenth century educational reform
as well as introduce his own philosophical ideas on education [14. –P.1408].
David Hume (1711-1776) - English philosopher, historian, economist. Describes the
basic principles of ideas: “For when men, from their early education in society, have
become sensible of the infinite advantages that result from it, and have besides acquired a
new affection to company and conversation; and when they have observed, that the
principal disturbance in society arises from those goods, which we call external, and from
their looseness and easy transition from one person to another” [15. –P.489].
Voltaire (1694-1778) was a French writer, philosopher and historian.Voltaire found
inspiration in their ideals of a free and liberal society, along with freedom of religion and
free commerce. It thus becomes clear that luxury is identified with the entirety of Voltaire’s
“Enlightenment project”. It is seen as integral to the progress of reason, religious tolerance,
moderate government, justice, politeness, increased sociability, and the arts and sciences.
It is in fact the visible proof of the ideal of human community: the development of human
potential and human happiness or pleasure. Hence Voltaire’s own persona became
strongly bound up with luxury [16].
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) was a French philosopher, writer, and composer.
Rousseau admits that in a corrupt society (such as the one in which he lived) only science,
and even general enlightenment, can provide man with a measure of relief. In a society
where it is no longer necessary or desirable that any prejudices be respected, one may
freely discuss the sacred foundations of society and freely seek not merely for remedies of
the prevailing abuses, but for what would be simply the best solution to the political
problem [17. –P.16]. Under such conditions the direct and scientific presentation of that
solution would at its worst be an innocent pastime; but assuming that there is a prospect
of a revolution, the new political science might prepare public opinion not merely for the
restoration of a healthy society, but for the establishment of a more perfect society than
ever existed before.
The famous French writer, lawyer and philosopher Charles Louis de Montesquieu
(1689-1755). It is in endeavouring to instruct mankind that we are best able to practise
that general virtue which comprehends the love of all. Man, that flexible being, conforming
in society to the thoughts and impressions of others, is equally capable of knowing his own
nature, whenever it is laid open to his view; and of losing the very sense of it, when this
idea is banished from his mind [18. –P.16].
The philosopher says the following about education: “Most of the book is devoted to
moral education in republics. Montesquieu here is no liberal, but adopts instead Aristotle’s
teaching that the state ought to ensure that all citizens be inspired by the same passion,
that prerequisite for the maintenance of the state. In a republic, this is the love of
patrie
and its laws, the persisting preference for the public over the private good. Because every
citizen participates in the government, he must be possessed of the passion that will
preserve it” [19. –P.79].
CONCLUSION
So, our thoughts on spiritual renewal, discussed above, have become an integral part
of the history of spiritual revival not only in Central Asia but also in the peoples of the
world. These ideas have been formed and developed in the process of studying the social
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environment, human relations, knowing the existing world and constantly striving to
change it, and serve to promote the scientific thinking of nations, spiritual growth,
advancement and implementation of ideas about human future. There is also a
commonality in the works of thinkers of East and West in their views on the role of culture
and enlightenment in the development of society. This can be seen through a variety of
ideas and perspectives. That is, we see in them that the issue of enlightenment in the
development of society, the role of education and its renewal, the acquisition of world
knowledge is the main issue in the idea of these enlighteners. That is, it is emphasized that
progress cannot be achieved without the development of enlightenment. In general, it can
be seen that the ideas and views related to the democratic development of society have
been the main dream of great thinkers and scholars in the history of mankind. There is no
doubt that in today's conditions of independence, special attention is paid to achieving it
in loyalty to the cultural heritage and traditions, which will serve human civilization.
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