Perspectives of modern education: specialization or universalism?

Importance . Modern education is currently in a state of crisis, the way out of which we see as the result of resolving the contradiction between the need to base upbringing and education on traditional values, enshrined in federal program documents, and the desire to profile the educational process already at the initial stages, which hinders the harmonious development of students. Relying on the philosophical and pedagogical legacy of A.S. Khomyakov allows us to identify ways out of the crisis. The purpose of the study is to theoretically substantiate the importance of universal education and postulate the harm of early advanced specialization based on the pedagogical ideology of the famous Slavophile. Materials and Methods . The study is carried out using the method of retro-spective analysis, which manifested itself in the form of an appeal to the educational concept of A.S. Khomyakov and the transfer of its main constructs to modern soil. The review of scientific publications on the topic of the work is carried out, their critical analysis is carried out. General theoretical methods of description, comparison, systematization of data, integration of conclusions in conclusions are also used. Results and Discussion . The prospects of overcoming the crisis in the modern education system in the Orthodox tradition of enlightenment are considered, one of the theorists of which was the Slavophile A.S. Khomyakov, who argued the need for the universalization of education as a condition for the full-fledged development of personality based on the spiritual and moral values of Russian Orthodoxy, the upbringing of a “thinking” person. Conclusion . It is concluded that knowledge acquired without a proper spiritual and moral foundation is “empty’. Education should not be limited to the transfer of knowledge and skills; it should include the formation of high moral qualities and ethical principles in a person. In this context, it can be argued that in order to ensure a successful and sovereign future of our country, a harmonious combination of deep knowledge and the development of spiritual and moral categories is necessary, that is, the universalization of education based on traditional values.