DOI: 10.46726/H.2026.3.19
The article examines the application of Derek Parfit's theory of impersonal consciousness to the current state of mass consciousness and its reception in Russian culture and philosophy. This consciousness manifests itself in a contemplative and weak-willed lifestyle. The authors pose the problem of the impersonal consciousness's reaction to external necessity, which motivates it to become a subject of activity. The purpose of the article is to explore the contradiction between freedom as an inherent human characteristic and external necessity, which determines the direction and nature of all human activity. This contradiction results in suffering, a state of anxiety and uncertainty that humans strive to overcome. The main research method is the dialectics of freedom and necessity, while additional methods include historical-philosophical, comparative, and cross-cultural analysis. The authors conclude that consciousness implies a specific type of freedom: freedom-will in the presence of selfhood, or freedom-emptiness in its absence. External necessity, which alienates human freedom, leads to destructive outcomes. The study concludes with a series of theses emphasizing the need to consider the characteristics of a society where a significant portion of individuals possess impersonal consciousness.
For citation: Petryakov L.D., Zosimchuk V.N. Consciousness without self, suffering without freedom (statement of the problem), Bulletin of Ivanovo State University. Series: Humanities, 2026, no. 3, pp. 174—182.