The subject of the research is the relationship between the personal and the public in the social philosophy of conservatism, using the views of European thinkers E. Burke and K. Mannheim as examples. The object of the research is the principle of the philosophy of conservatism known as solidarism, according to which the full development of an individual is possible only in connection with society. This connection is characterized by freedom rather than coercion. The author examines aspects of the topic such as the balance between individual rights and freedoms and duty and responsibility in detail. Special attention is paid to how to prevent freedom from turning into arbitrariness, which can act as restraining factors. Factors such as traditions, social institutions, and the state are considered. The idea of conservatives about the hierarchical structure of society and the monarchical form of government as the best is revealed. Historical comparison methods, analysis of philosophical concepts of classical European conservatism, abstraction, and focusing attention on specific aspects of conservatism—solidarism and hierarchism—are used. The main conclusions of the conducted research are the following assertions: the perception of man by conservative philosophers as part of a whole—family, society, nation—does not depersonalize the individual but increases his value through belonging to something greater than himself. Rootedness in the common existence of the whole people protects the individual from delusions and mistakes, setting the correct direction for its spiritual and moral development. The novelty of the research lies in the exploration of the concept of social hierarchy. Society is perceived by conservatives as a hierarchical whole. Hierarchy defines each person's place, their rights, and obligations. The more benefit an individual brings to society, the more privileges they have. Everyone possesses equal ontological significance but differs in their calling, like parts of a single organism. The foundation of conservatism rests on the idea of not so much legal but value-based equality among people. By nature, individuals have different talents and abilities, physical and spiritual qualities, so a hierarchical vertical will always be maintained in society. However, precedence is understood by conservatives as precedence in love and responsibility. From the conservatives' perspective, social order is upheld by authority, which is why many of them were supporters of the monarchical form of government.
Anna Vladimirovna Skvortsova (Thu,) studied this question.