Malinov A.V. (2019) A.S. Lappo-Danilevsky in the history of Russian Sociology: on the centenary of the death of the scientist. Journal of Sociology and Social Anthropology, 22 (5): 7–38. https: ...

Abstract

The article analyses the sociological views defended by A.S. Lappo-Danilevsky(1863-1919) and considers his activity directed to the institutialization of sociology inRussia and to the teaching of sociological disciplines: the organization of theM.M. Kovalevky Russian Sociological Society (1916), the project of establishing of theSocial Sciences Institute (1918). On the basis of the archival sources, the article proposesLappo-Danilevsky’s interpretation of a number of sociological doctrines: the origins ofsociology, A. Compte’s project of positive social science, the criticism of J.S. Mill’sdoctrine, organic movement in sociology, bio-social movement, materialistic movement,«critical construction». It is shown that Lappo-Danilevsky’s works are characterized bythe historical method of explanation of sociological theories, which was determined withthe didactical and pedagogical aims. The demonstration of the historical development ofsocial ideas allowed Lappo-Danilevsky to avoid dogmatism and to foster the students’independence of thinking. His scientific views were close to the Neo-Kantianism. Lappo-Danilevsky considered the elaboration of the epistemological and methodological issuesof social science as relevant to the social theory of his times.