Social Fears in the Context of Security Concern: Social and Philosophical Analysis

Abstract

The main problem which the author of the article is focused on consists in the study of phenomena associated with the formation of social fears as the factors of subjectification of security problems in contemporary society, as well as the study of changes in the structure of social fears and the possibilities of calculating them, created by the impact of increasing risks and threats.

A wide range of methodological and theoretical approaches of social philosophy, sociology and social psychology is used in the research.

Historically, security problems are associated with the security of the state, countries, and the world as a whole. Researchers are usually interested in any aspects of security: environmental, energy, information, mental, etc. At the same time, the question arises about the kind of emotional context in which a social subject, a group or an individual gets the expression of the threats in a specific social and historical dimension.

Global transformation processes have been reflected in the consciousness of person and society, which is traced by the researchers in the growth of misadaption of the population, gain in the feelings of insecurity, apathy, and depression. Crisis phenomena in the global development process are accompanied by reappraisal and breakage of values. The crisis consciousness which was extensively discussed in broad social and philosophical reflection at the beginning of the last century, acquired new features in the new century: it became catastrophic. The components of social fears have become an inherent part of human existence. An individual acts as a “prism”, through which, with due account for the socializing filter, emotions of fear are passed. Society itself shapes and socializes an individual in various planes of existence of fear as a threat of non-existence. In the modern world, the threat of non-existence exists as an absence of the meanings of life, as a guilt and fear of death.

The notion of “security” in science is defined as multiple-aspect in its content and interpretations. It is associated with the concepts of “risk”, “anxiety”, “danger” and “threat” as empirical indicators of catastrophic consciousness.

The value of security is universal in nature and is recognized by all people, regardless of social standing, national origin, or gender. In the history of society, social institutions act as the mechanisms for creating a certain repertory of social fears. Through the use of social institutions, society aims to support socially conditioned fears, providing the individuals with the ready-made interpretations and clichés.