Arete Philosophical Club as an Anthroposociocultural Phenomenon of the Border Orenburg Region of Russia

Abstract

The article presents the problems of philosophical scientific and scientific-educational work in the border region of Russia, which is the greater Orenburg Region, which is adjacent to Kazakhstan in the south, and borders with Bashkiria in the north. Following the scientific and educational tasks that contribute to the strengthening of ideological attitudes in the region, the philosophical club Arete (Greek. virtue, dignity), based in the Orenburg library named after N. K. Krupskaya, attracts students, teachers, researchers and all those interested in science to participate in discussions on philosophy. In the midst of the pandemic, the library uploaded videos of Arete meetings to make them available to a wider audience. The discussions do reflect the club’s name — participants focus on virtue, perfection, problems of freedom and responsibility. The meetings have a therapeutic, pedagogical effect, they help refrain from passions and make a dignified and deserving member of society. This sociocultural project rekindles understanding philosophy as an art of living. Philosophy teaches to resort to reason in decision-making and leads to a true virtue, bridging the gap between everyday life and a higher plane of thought. The young when introduced to philosophy get an invaluable help in finding answers to the most profound questions of what it is to be a human and how to find where you belong. In this respect, the topics of the club’s meeting indicate the scope of problems that need consideration and discussion with a younger audience: core values of a civil society; philosophical basis of legal culture; the problem of individual’s self-determination; the phenomenon of fear in the philosophical discourse; the study of axiological problem of social memory; philosophy of family; abandonment and solitude at home; problems of modern aesthetics and environmental challenges etc. From our point of view, initiatives that raise the profile of Russian regions are in the best interest of cities and towns suffering depopulation. Such projects are vital since they give the sense of empowerment and belonging, let them feel involved in the real economy, politics and culture, and thus encourage the young generation to develop their home area. We hope that Arete will set a good example of a project that brings philosophy back to people.