Revisited “Ideals” of Muscovite Scribes and Politicians
The emergence of political ideals is an indicator of the development of society. Discussing ideals, society sees the possibility of changing the conditions of its existence, a guideline for development, a “different reality”. The emergence of ideals shows that social life feels the need and the ability to transform itself. The paper answers to the question, when do these processes begin in Russia? In historiography, examples of the rst ideal political concepts are usually associated with the 16th century, the ideas of Ivan Peresvetov, Andrei Kurbsky, Yermolai Erasmus, and others. The article shows that these ideals are largely constructed and modernized on the basis of presentism, they are absand in reality of the 16th century. It is dif cult to single out conceptually formulated Russian political and social ideals. We see ideals in the church, spiritual life (the ideals of holiness) and formed ideals of everyday life (Domostroy). Political thought in Early Modern Russia was more oriented towards tradition, intuitionism and pragmatism. The formulation of political and social ideals will occur later, as one gets acquainted with the political ideas of Europe and the formation of a layer of domestic intellectuals.