The problem of the nation in the philosophy of Sergei Hessen

Sergei (Sergius) Hessen (1887-1950) views the nation within a framework as a stage in the development of a collective social subject that shapes culture. This interpretation of the nation implies a corresponding justification of individual freedom and social good. Hessen’s use of the axiology of Southwest German neo-Kantianism allows him to correlate individual and social goals of development. Hessen links freedom and socialization, viewing personal creativity as a contribution to the public good. Using the Kantian ethics of duty to justify freedom, Hessen associates it with adherence to duty, a rejection of natural arbitrariness. Duty implies socialization: the individual recognizes oneself as a member of society along with other individuals. The individual recognizes the supra-individual goals of development - the goals of society - and considers oneself a participant in the realization of these goals. Individuals develop identities if they recognize freedom - submit to duty and participate in the realization of supra-individual goals. Any culture, according to Hessen, is possible in the form of the national realization of cultural values. The nation is a stage in the development of social cohesion that has the capacity to shape culture. Hessen views the nation and the people as stages in the development of the social subject. Just as individuals develop identities and join others in the realization of the super-individual goals of development, so a people is transformed into a nation if they discover for themselves the super-national goals of development and join with other nations in their realization. According to Hessen, national education helps to correlate individual freedom with the public good, to achieve the conjunction of individual and societal goals of development. Through education, Hessen affirms the connection between individual freedom and universal values through the nation and justifies human development in the form of a pluralism of national cultures. The author declares no conflicts of interests.

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