Civil society axiological characteristic

The study deals with the social and philosophical analysis of the value aspect of ideas about civil society arrangement. An axiological approach is applied to civil society from the standpoint of two aspects. Firstly, certain basic values of this type of society are defined. Secondly, this society is understood as a value. The author refers to Plato and Aristotle’s ideas as the starting point for determining the civil society values. Their ideas are reconsidered in J. Locke’s views in the Modern Era. The values of civil society are identified. They include the reasonable power and law, the equality of all actors of social and political institutions, the freedom of speech and obtaining the reliable information. The study reveals that the value of civil society is the preservation of human and personality. Such a society is person-oriented.