Criticism of “Bourgeois” Political Doctrines: Cognition through Denial

Abstract

In the historiography of political and legal doctrines, along with general scientific research methods, traditional methods are used: chronological, problematic, portrait, country studies. The critical approach is applied in all types of research of political ideas. Meanwhile, in historiography, this method is not given the attention it deserves. Criticism always involves an assessment of the empirical and theoretical material contained in various texts (sources). The productivity of this method is obvious. A critical approach makes it possible to assess the scientific content of a particular political doctrine, as well as the practical prospects for its implementation. Criticism implies a deep immersion of the researcher into the problem and maximum objectivity in evaluating the results obtained. This is what is most often lacking. The legal sphere is already political and is an integral part of it. Political doctrines, as well as the law (one of the forms of expression of law), are always connected with the interests of social groups (In the former terminology — classes). In this regard, it is not necessary to expect neutrality in the estimates. This was the case at the time of total administration in the field of social sciences, and it is happening today, when methodological pluralism and ideological diversity are declared. During the Soviet period, “bourgeois” doctrines and their creators were particularly criticized. As time has shown, this criticism was largely justified. History as such consistently confirms a curious pattern: “progressive” thinkers eventually become “reactionary”, as well as vice versa. Moreover, not only in our country. The paper states the dual orientation of criticism. On the one hand, a critical approach allows a more objective assessment of the political and legal doctrine. This shows its cognitive (cognitive) aspect. On the other hand, criticism gives the researcher a chance to convey to the reader the essence of any theory, doctrine, and idea and give him the opportunity to evaluate them himself. In the conditions of actual censorship, criticism remains almost the only genre of characterization of political and legal doctrines.