Development of axiological issues in the philosophical views of R. H. Lotze

Abstract

The peculiarities of the formation of axiological problematics in the philosophical views of Lotze are examined in the article. It is established that he makes a peculiar “axiological turn” in philosophy. In particular, the worldview and methodological peculiarities of the philosophical views of Lotze that became the grounds for the development of axiological problematics and the basis for further emergence of axiology as science are analyzed. Such analysis of Lotze’s philosophical views regarding the development of the grounds of axiology is made in the context of Kantianism and personalism. In the article, it is substantiated that Lotze’s axiological ideas are based on such worldview grounds as Kantian transcendental apriorism and personalism. Investigated are the axiological aspects of Lotze’s personalism that affected the separation of axiological problematics in his views. The peculiarities of interpretation of the concept of “value” in Lotze’s views are detected. In the article, it is showed that the differentiation of axiology from the philosophy sphere is based on worldview aspects of the understanding of human and his/her significance in existence. In particular, it is established that such differentiation happens based on his interpretation of human as an active subject of cognition, which was introduced in gnoseology of transcendental apriorism of I. Kant. Subjectivism in Lotze’s views, which lies in granting the significance to the subject as a phenomenon of existence due to its spiritual self-sufficiency, is the basis for the deployment in his philosophical views the doctrine about values. It is outlined that the granting of axiological status to human as an important factor of existence and the substantiation of the idea of uniqueness and value of human in Lotze’s personalism based on the significance of his/her spirit became the grounds for the separation of axiological problematics in his views. Lotze interprets the subject of cognition as a personality, as “self”, as a spiritual substance, as consciousness that is an undeniable fact, who has the biggest significance in existence. In the article, it is shown that the concept of “value” in Lotze’s philosophical views is used in an anthropological-gnoseological context, i.e., from the perspective of values of human consciousness, the human spirit that becomes the basis for granting the status of value to human. It is proved that the semantics of the concept of “value” in Lotze’s views is developed not based on the value of existence or God, but based on the value of human, who has significance and value due to the significance and value of his/her consciousness, spirit. The concept of “value” in Lotze’s views has an anthropological meaning since it is based on the internal value of human and his/her spirituality.