Public and private as the “great dichotomy” of the western world

The article considers the public and private spheres as a pair of terms that describe socio-cultural characteristics of Western liberal societies of the Modern Era. What is open belongs to the public sphere. On the contrary, what is property of person or family belongs to the private sphere. The article gives pairs of terms, which relate to privacy and publicity: street - home, open - hidden, stage - sincerity, nature - culture, man - woman. The division of society into a dual pair of opposites occurred in the era of modernity. Home turns into a private space, closed from public,;a place of rest and sincere, laid-back behavior; a field of activity for a woman. Public space, on the contrary, is a place where a man rules, something that is visible and accessible to everyone, where it is necessary to control one's behavior in order to maintain social peace. The public and private spheres are connected and complement each other, forming a continuum. The right to privacy of an individual, their bodily and spiritual integrity depends on the social environment, socio-cultural values and norms. On the contrary, actions of subjects in the public space are largely predetermined by their biographical experience gained in the private world. Interests of an individual depend on the successful functioning of society, and a healthy society consists of successful individuals. Preserving the balance of these two principles makes it possible to structure society, taking into account both personal and public interests. The author declares no conflicts of interests.

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