ETHICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL PRINCIPLES OF THE ACTIVITY OF A CIVIL SERVANT IN THE CONDITIONS OF SOCIAL TRANSFORMATIONS

Abstract

Background. Modern social transformations, which are caused by many factors, including war, reforms, and digitalization processes, actualize the problem of rethinking the role of a civil servant. The traditional legal interpretation of his status as a set of rights and obligations turns out to be insufficient to explain the value and moral dimensions of activity. The purpose of the study is to identify the ethical and philosophical principles of the activity of a civil servant in the conditions of social transformations. Methods. The methodological basis is historical and philosophical methods, especially important for the study were hermeneutic and axiological methods. The historical and philosophical complex approach allowed us to trace the development of ideas about civil service, the hermeneutic approach allowed us to interpret classical philosophical concepts, and the axiological approach allowed us to analyze the value principles of the activity of a civil servant. Results. It is established that civil service should be considered as a specific ethical practice, where legal norms are combined with professional standards and moral guidelines. The significance of the category of service as an alternative to the careerist approach, which assumes the priority of the public interest, is substantiated, and it is also shown that the principles of freedom and responsibility, developed in classical philosophy, form the normative basis of the activities of a civil servant. The results prove that integrity is not only an institutional requirement, but also an internal moral attitude of the individual. At the same time, the problem of conflict of interest as an ethical dilemma, revealing the tension between the private and the public, is analyzed. Conclusions. The activities of a civil servant should be considered as a form of morally responsible practice, which goes beyond the limits of purely legal regulation. The effectiveness of public administration depends on the combination of regulatory and legal and ethical and philosophical principles, as well as on the ability of the servant to make a responsible moral choice.