Centuries-old dispute about a role of hereditary and education for development of personality: history of problem

The article discusses the history of polemic in relation to the reasons for the determination of personal qualities of individuals. These issues were considered in the studies of outstanding antique and continue to be discussed until now. The idea about complex mechanism for the development of man's inherent natural opportunities, close attention to man and his spiritual side was characterized the ancient Greek philosophers’ views. Medieval Christianity defended the dogma about absolute godlike beginning. Interest in the study of the personality reappeared at the Renaissance thinkers’ treatises, which influenced on the philosophy of the Early Modern period and the Enlightenment era. Interest for understanding of man biological essence was characteristic of the Early Modern period philosophy. Enlightenment philosophers believed in the possibility of liberation of man from his sins by education, which influenced the development of pedagogical thought in the second half of the XVII Century. Following the development of physiology of higher nervous activity knowledge the problem of hereditary and social determination has risen to a new level and involved the leading teachers, scientists of natural scientists and philosophers in the discussion about this question. The article analyzes the views of Pythagoras, Democritus, Plato, Aristotle, R. Descartes, D. Locke, C. Helvetius, J.-J. Rousseau, K.D. Ushinsky, N.G. Chernyshevsky, P.F. Lesgaft, Z. Freud, S. Hall, A.B. Zalkind, P.P. Blonskii, P.F. Kapterev on the causes of the individuality of the human psyche. Throughout the history of the development of philosophical thought, the problem of natural and social determination in the development of personality was one of the central.