SCIENCE WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF IDEOLOGY: THE IMPACT OF THE PAVLOVIAN SESSION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOVIET PHYSIOLOGY AND MEDICINE

Abstract

This study critically examines the 1950 Pavlovian Session in Moscow, focusing on its ideological, scientific, and institutional implications within Soviet physiology. The session, organized by the Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, was ostensibly aimed at developing the theoretical foundations of I.P. Pavlov’s teachings and integrating them into medicine, pedagogy, physical education, and animal husbandry. However, the session functioned primarily as a political instrument to control scientific discourse, marginalize dissenting physiologists, and consolidate party authority over the field. Using a qualitative historical-analytical approach, this research analyzes archival documents, institutional decisions, and contemporary accounts to evaluate the session’s impact on Soviet scientific culture. Findings indicate that the session not only disrupted the development of physiology and medicine but also undermined the moral and intellectual foundations of Soviet science, fostering conformity, dogmatism, and the politicization of scientific practice.

Keywords: Pavlovian Session; Soviet physiology; scientific politics; ideology in science; institutional restructuring; I.P. Pavlov; Stalinism; history of science.