O.G. Drobnicki's Ethical Conceptualism and Universalism

Abstract

According to Drobnicki morality did not come from the beginning of the life, but only appeared at a certain stage in the history of human socialization, together with the formation of social differences within the tribe, that demanded moral regulation. In this sense, an understanding of morality is related to the actions of universal norms. Drobnicki's «ethical conceptualism» was developed to be more neutral with respect to official moral philosophy prevaled in the USSR. Drobnicki stated that above all regulatory requirements are institutional norms, which include the law, various administrative regulations, statutes, etc. They dictate rules of behavior in different organizations and communities. Institutional rules presuppose a subject — the body that sets them, and an object — those whom these rules are prescribed for. In fact, we all are objects of these regulations. Drobnicki stressed that as a formal criterion this principle allows only to distinguish moral judgments from nonmoral. However, the principle of universality acts also as a substantive requirement to people: how to express requirements and how to evaluate the actions of people. In a strictly logical sense, in terms of the concept of morality, the principle of universality is not formal. Moreover, due to a form of perception and attitude towards reality morality could become one of the original ways of thinking about the history of human.