Lukin D.V. Social Meaning of Charisma

Abstract: The subject of the article is the analysis of the phenomenon of charisma. In his research Lukin describes the evolution of the concept of charisma and notes that the concept of charisma offered by Max Weber provided the basis for the modern definition of the phenomenon. The author shows that charismatic personality may come from any social sphere. Charismatic people can be teachers, priests, sportsmen, philosophers or politicians, etc. Trying the analyze the sources of charisma, the researcher appeals to Friedrich Nietzsche's and Karl Jaspers' works. Development of the advertising industry and political technologies create a new image of charisma which probably differs from the classical concept thereof. The new phenomenon imitating charisma and called 'pseudocharisma' appears. In the course of his research the author has used the methods of philosophical anthropology and social philosophy allowing to analyze charisma as the social phenomenon and anthropological feature. The scientific novelty of the research is caused by the fact that the author presents his own point of view on the matter, according to which it is incorrect to consider all leaders to be charismatic. Based on the author, not all leaders or people with authoritative powers are charismatic. Charisma is the human mystery, a gift which can be neither found nor developed.   

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