Philosophical Principles of Modernization of the Status of a Civil Servant

B a c k g r o u n d . The article examines the philosophical principles of modernization of the status of a civil servant in the context of the transformation of public administration. The author emphasizes that the concept of "public administration" is increasingly replacing the traditional understanding of "state administration", which is a consequence of the strengthening of democratic institutions and the idea of humanism. In this context, a special role is played by the rethinking of the functions of a civil servant – not only as an executor of political will, but also as a representative of the institution of serving citizens. M e t h o d s . The study used historical and philosophical methods, in particular historical and genetic and comparative analysis to trace trends in the semantic change of the concept of "civil service" and connections with philosophical concepts and ideas in the context of the history of philosophy. Among the general scientific methods, analysis, synthesis, induction and deduction were used. This allowed combining philosophical understanding with legal terminology and management approaches. R e s u l t s . The role of I. Kant and J. Locke is outlined as thinkers who laid the foundations of the modern philosophy of the state, based on the idea of law, freedom and responsibility. The philosophical understanding of the motivation of a civil servant as a factor influencing the effectiveness of the performance of public administration functions is analyzed. Attention is drawn to the importance of the ideological training of civil servants, based on humanistic ideals and moral autonomy. C o n c l u s i o n s . The article emphasizes that in a democratic system, civil service should be considered not as an instrument of political control, but as a form of service to society. In this sense, the role of a civil servant goes beyond the administrative function and encompasses the ethical, legal and ideological component. Philosophers John Locke and Immanuel Kant, in particular in their works "Two Treatises on Government" and "Eternal Peace: A Philosophical Essay", formulated a vision of the state as a mechanism for realizing freedom through law, which was reflected in modern concepts of public administration. The importance of philosophical understanding of the motivation of employees is also revealed – not only as a management tool, but also as a manifestation of responsibility to citizens. This allows us to consider the civil service as an organic part of the rule of law, where the value of the individual becomes the highest criterion for the effectiveness of the management system.