RETROSPECTIVE DEVELOPMENT OF THEORIES OF SOCIAL PROGRESS
The article is devoted to the analysis of the transformation of the idea of social progress. It is noted that with the development of social sciences the idea of social progress is increasingly becoming criticized by philosophers and sociologists. Investigating the theories of sociologists of the XIX - XX centuries, the authors come to the conclusion about the ever-increasing disappointment in the progressive line of society. This is due to the aggravated contradictions of the industrial society, and subsequently, the post-industrial society. Conducting a historiographical analysis of social theories (J.-J. Rousseau, J. de Maistre, L. de Bonald, F. Tennis, S. Huntington, and others), the authors note an increase in skepticism about the future of humanity. The current state of the problem is directly related to the restructuring of the world economy. High-tech industries instead of heavy industry have advanced to the leading position, the “knowledge industry” is developing, computerization is taking place and global information communication technologies are emerging that change all areas of society’s life. These shifts correspond to a general concept that distinguishes the pre-industrial, industrial and post-industrial stages of the development of society in the socio-historical evolution. Each of these stages correspond to certain spiritual values. The authors of the article believe that the concept of modern society as a core problem should include the anthropological orientation of the entire social development.