Are there any moral authorities in Russia?

The results of our open voting

Friends!

You know that from time to time our site was conducted by one survey, the results of which then seemed important - necessary to talk about the spirit of our time with you, the study of which COLTA.RU and its authors are engaged. We found out who is the “main” public intellectual of the country for our readers, on OpenSpace.ru and on colta.ru ; Sometimes the results were surprised even by ourselves - but the very formulation of the question seemed quite natural. Public space is formed by people who were once called the rulers of the thoughts; We tried to understand their names and place in today's Russia. Politicians, writers, journalists interested us precisely as thinking : authors of convincing concepts and witty theories that would explain today today.

But today, nine years later, even their authors are not interested in the next witty theories. Intellectual brilliance, accurate knowledge and breadth of associations at once faded against the backdrop of one modest concept, which had recently returned to social everyday life. The word "ethics" , which was almost useless during the sapistory, suddenly returned to the headlines and lecture halls - and if earlier fashionable Columonists and their readers were worried about various options for what could happen, now they can do what under any circumstances. The personal choice between black and white, good and evil, which until recently seemed self -evident to the fresh one, has now acquired an unexpected, new intensity. In the era of ethical revolutions (this is what the zones of polarization are called now, from the Maidan and the “Arab spring” to the discussions around # m e t oo ), society was divided into new lines - and each of us is invited to formulate our own symbol of faith or at least choose the right landmarks for ourselves.

A few years ago, it was customary to complain in public discussions that there was no institution of reputation in our modernity. Today we are witnesses of the triumphal return of the conversation about reputations; And if neither age, nor merits, nor folk love save a public figure from public censure, the very attempt to imagine the mechanisms of forming reputations seems important and necessary.

In the red -hot air of ethical boom, a system of orientation is needed: the names that you want to look at, people whose authority has to appeal in complex or slurred situations, in other words, samples that want to imitate. Are they in today's Russia and - wider - in the Russian -speaking space? Who can be unconditionally believe, to whom to equal? Are there still public figures whose names are personifying the idea of ​​“moral authorities” for us?

This question has long been interested in the editorial office of Colta.ru - and finally we decided to answer it with the most empirical and democratic way: by asking you, our readers.

On this page, you are offered an eclectic and incomplete list of those who (as it seems to us) could claim the place of moral authority - for a wide variety of ideological groups and social strata.

We suggest you choose people who are personally for you - and only for you - are moral authorities: those whose example and decisions are important for you, whose actions I want to imitate. Choose - and give them your voice.

If you have not found anyone who would play such a role in your life, or do not see the point even in the very formulation of the question, you have the opportunity to offer other candidates - or even vote against everyone.

Any result will be interesting: in this way, Colta.ru hopes to understand who exactly - and why - our readers trust: “opinions of opinions”, collectively approved truths or exclusively to themselves. In the time of new ethics, it is trust that becomes the main currency.

Your Colt

Voting rules

When there is a vote

Voting has been on April 13 and ends at midnight on April 25.

List

In the list compiled by the editorial office, there are only 61 social and cultural figures. But in addition to the editorial list, there is also an alternative, user. In addition, you have the opportunity to vote against everyone - and in a few different ways: carefully read the last four points in the list.

How to vote

1. Choose from one to three people who have personally for you (and only for you) an unconditional moral authority. This means that their reputation - in your opinion - is impeccable, their assessment for you is significant and their positions on important public issues can become decisive for you.

2. You can choose this person or these people from two lists: the main (editorial) and additional (reader). You have three votes on both lists.

3. If you have not found in any of the lists of your candidate, you can add his name yourself. How to do this is explained below. You can add a new candidate only before you press the “vote” button.

4. You can vote only once.

5. Please do not cheat: any attempts to technological cheates will be monitored and strictly suppressed.

How to add your candidate

1. Click on the "Add your option" button.

2. Enter the name of your candidate according to the following scheme: name (without a patronymic), surname, kind of activity. For example: Anna Petrova, philosopher. All three fields must be filled out.

3. We remind you that you can add only one candidate.

4. Please note that voting is carried out only among people who are now living, speaking and writing in Russian. If your moral authority is Mahatma Gandhi or Pope Francis, choose one of the options at the very end of the list.

5. Before adding a new candidate, carefully read the lists - editorial and user. Perhaps your option has already been offered someone.

6. The editors reserves the right to prenord the proposed candidates and the removal of those options that do not meet the survey criteria.

When will the result be known

The voting results will be announced on Colta.ru April 28, 2018.

How we made up the editorial list

The editors tried to objectively look at the situation in the country and included only those who, from its point of view, have a potential influence on a large number of people in Russia. This was for us a decisive principle: in our list there are people with a variety of political and public positions.

You may not agree with our choice and challenge it as practically - adding to the list of new people, and in comments or social networks.

The result of our experiment is unpredictable both for readers and the editorial office - but the experience of an open conversation about reputations seems necessary to us. We are sure that after the results of the vote are summed up, the picture of public moods in Russia of the era of “ethical revolutions” will become at least a little clearer.