Utilitarianism vs unselfishness: collisions of epistemological discourse under caesar-politarсh’s patronage

Abstract

The subiect of this article is the specificity of socio-cultural situation in which the individual professionally engaging in natural sciences and mathematics does act in politary society (ancient Egypt, ancient India and China, medieval Arab-Muslim world, etc.). One element of this situation is difficult, often tense and even conflictual relationship between scientists and administrative bureaucracy, reporting from the real head of State, designated as the Caesar-politarch. The task of scientists is the acquisition of increasingly accurate and adequate knowledge of the structure and development of the material world and also methods of achievement such knowledge. In contrast, administrative machine usually implements installation of its leader at the forefront of putting maximum control over the process and the results of any serious theoretical and empirical research. For better understanding of this conflict, the author uses the contrasting juxtaposition. As relevant concepts are elected: 1) «utilitarianism», that is a leading, defining politarch’s query and characteristics of any variety of politary management; 2) «unselfishness», that is an attribute of free scientific search oriented to the cognition of the universe the way it is. The main purpose of life for the ruler is always maintaining and reinforcing its autocratic power, so he estimates everything from the perspective of how this thing serves this purpose. The Caesar-politarch extrapolates all his utilitarianism, pragmatism, subjectivity on a cognitive, epistemological sphere. He appreciates only the information which is useful for the consolidation of his available power, but knowledge, which is not conducive to any, is perceived by him as indifferent, or hostile. On the contrary, the maxim of unselfishness, becoming an ethical norm in epistemological discourse, brings together seekers of truth in a special type of Corporation of the Republic of scientists or the Invisible College. Disinterestedly contemplation, not requiring special, additional benefits (wealth, prestige or authority) turns out to be a condition for the acquisition of really new fundamental knowledge and further progress in the sciences on the structure and functioning of the universe.