Concepts of “interest” and “social interest” in jurisprudence: theoretical and legal aspect

The article is devoted to the analysis of the legal aspect of the notions of interest and social interest, which have been widely disseminated in the scientific legal literature. The main approaches to the notion of "interest" in the legal science, the correlation of the categories "interest" and "social interest" from the point of view of the theory of state and law, as well as the question of, whether any interest enshrined in law is social, are investigated. In the process of research, the author concluded that social interest is a conscious need of the subject, expressed in his motivated activity in society, fixed, regulated, realized through the law and protected by the state. In the society, the process of realizing any interest is directly connected with the law, which plays the dominant role, being formed under the direct influence of interests, serves as a means for their implementation. In turn, the legal norms need to consolidate the existing social interests of the individual, society and the state with the aim of properly regulating the behavior of the subjects of law and achieving a balance of their interests.