Society without a spiritual component turns into a host of individuals for whom financial position is the main value. In view of this, the Russian society is making attempts to find its cultural and spiritual identity.
In particular, in 2004 in 25 regions of the Russian federation the Sociological centre RASS under the president of the RF under the direction of prof. V.E. Bojkov carried out the sociological research "The spiritual culture of the modern Russian society: state and forming tendencies". O.A. Mitroshenkov [2, p. 37-46] has analyzed the findings. Unfortunately conclusion is not comforting. In comparison with the positive tendencies of country cultural life (theatre, cinema and music) evaluation of changes in system of education is painful. Nearly 51% of population and 58% of experts have noted that the condition of the modern system of education is becoming worse. As the main reasons for this state in education O.A. Mitroshenkov names orientation toward future good financial position as the main value; aspiration for getting high-paid, prestigious job and as a result working professions are unclaimed among entrants; destruction of the fable about high education as the password in elite; deterioration of education; creation of shadow economy in education; situation when students´ maintenance costs are lower than creation of a new workplace.
The overall score of the modern spiritual culture state looks like "domination of nonculture" (37% of asked people). O.A. Mitroshenkov points out that formation of such a negative definition of spiritual culture standard is influenced by the following factors: inefficiency of cultural politics; inaccessibility of many cultural benefits; confirmation of vulgar specimens as cultural norms; transformation of value system toward material benefits; pauperization of daily population way of life; averaging and popularization of television, mass media and so on.
Problems, which were revealed by this research in 2004, were intensified by international financial crisis, which started in 2009 and also demographical for Russia. The man with his personal characteristics is on the background now.
Summarizing the results of such a research we think it expedient to make our own research aimed at the determination of the level of spiritual culture formation of students in institutes of higher education. The basis for the research was the North Caucuses State Technical University and the Stavropol State University.
The aims of this work will help to discover:
- students´ general idea about culture;
- attitude towards such notions as "spiritual culture", "spirituality", "spiritual life";
- criteria for differentiation of spiritual and material culture according to students´ opinion;
- veritable reference points and value priorities of today´s generation;
- the level of perception of ethic, legal, scientific, aesthetic, religious and philosophical doctrines in the past and modern time;
- circumstances which influence social status and person´s prestige in the society;
- young generation´s estimation of changes that have taken place in the spiritual life of the Russian culture and in the system of education during the last decade.
The results of this research will become the starting stage for pointing out problems, which are in urgent need of solving.
In particular there is a suggestion to add the special course "History and modern tendencies in spiritual culture of the Russian society" to curriculum of several departments. Its aim is to study spiritual heritage of Russia from the point of view of its history, formation of legal and legislative relations, ethic and aesthetic norms, relations between state and church, biography and destiny of Russian defenders and its outstanding figures and also the cultural peculiarities of each period. For North Caucasus institutions of higher education it is suggested to add the regional component, in which rich in traditions history of numerous nations that live here, peculiarity of their relation and integration in the Russian social space are reflected.
We cannot force person to be spiritually enriched. He responds neither punishment nor danger, no kindness. But only inner freedom and turn for analyzing his actions may open the way to virtue for a person. Man must find necessity for truth by himself [1, p. 3].
Until this statement is not realized by society and every citizen of Russia individually critical situation in upbringing, education and cultural fields will be becoming worse.
References
- Arzamastsev A.M. Values of intelligible world: Journal of the scientific articles. / Under the edition of А.М. Arzamastsev. - Magnitogorsk: МSТU, 2004. - 218 p.
- Mitroshenkov O.A. Space of the Russian society spiritual culture: test by changes // The Sociological researches, №11, p. 37-46, 2005.