History of philosophy as a vocation and profession

Abstract

This publication is dedicated to the anniversary of the famous St. Petersburg philosopher, Professor of St. Petersburg State University Igor Dmitrievich Osipov. In an interview with the editors of the journal Philosophical Polylogue, I.D. Osipov answers the questions about his life and research work, which for many decades has been connected with the Faculty of Philosophy (Institute of Philosophy) of St. Petersburg State University. He tells about his university teachers, characterizes the atmosphere that reigned at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University in different years, recalls his students, and also discusses the specifics of modern philosophical periodicals, current problems of studying the history of Russian philosophy, and the peculiarities of teaching philosophy in higher education. The rich research and pedagogical experience of the jubilee allows him to mark important events in the history of St. Petersburg philosophy and the Philosophy Department (Institute of Philosophy) of St. Petersburg State University, as well as to outline the prospects for its development. The materials of the interview give an opportunity to better understand the process of formation of the modern image of the tradition of studying the history of Russian philosophy that emerged in St. Petersburg in the 1990s and continues up to the present day. I.D. Osipov’s personal contribution to this pro­cess lies primarily in the fact that he was able to develop and successfully implement in a num­ber of thorough studies a new, non-ideologized methodology for studying the history of socio-political thought in Russia, presenting it both as a whole and in the aspect of the two most influential traditions, namely liberalism and conser­va­tism.