Philosophical understanding of peasants’ attitude to wealth and poverty in Russia at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries

The choice of the subject is due to the fact that despite the transformation of the living conditions and the worldview of people, the traditional values, from the authors’ point of view, largely determine the modern life. In any case, the attitude towards wealth prevalent among peasants in the Russian Empire remains the same, and it must be taken into account to build a smart economic policy. The study considers the attitude of peasants towards wealth and poverty. The mentality of the Russian peasants is analyzed as well. The study revealed that it was based on such values as labor, faith, and honor. Therefore, neither the prosperity nor money was meaningful to people. It was concluded that the existence of the peasantry was based on the fulfillment of the duty towards God and people. The authority of a man depended on his religiosity, morality, and diligence rather than his welfare. Nowadays, this trend persists. The majority of the population regard the money as a means of achieving prosperity and strive not for a maximum benefit but for a worthy life (in the moral rather than the material sense).