Ancient ethics in the moral education concept of nineteenth-century Russian publicist Nikolay Debolsky

The significance of this study lies in the exploration of the experience of a lesser-known Russian philosopher, publicist, and educator from the late 19th century, N. G. Debolsky, in his search for the moral foundations of individual and societal education. Through a content analysis of his work “Philosophical Foundations of Moral Education”, a clear influence of ancient ethical concepts was identified. A comparative analysis of selected ethical principles of ancient Greek philosophers and Debolsky highlighted the profound impact of ancient philosophy on the Russian philosophical tradition of the 19th century. By examining variations in the definitions of ethical concepts such as good, virtue, equality, justice, and happiness between these two time periods, the study illustrates the contrasting worldviews of these cultural eras. The study reveals that Debolsky’s critical assessment of ethical theories from Greek philosophers such as the Cyrenaics, Cynics, Stoics, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle led him to adopt only certain aspects of Plato’s ethics as conducive to moral education. The idealistic synthesis of Plato’s thought with purposeful action guided by a higher calling served as a core principle for Debolsky in moral education.