Igor Semyonovich Kon (; 21 May 1928 – 27 April 2011) was a

Soviet The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

and

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

philosopher Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, Value (ethics and social sciences), value, mind, and language. It is a rational an ...

psychologist A psychologist is a professional who practices psychology and studies mental states, perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior. Their work often involves the experimentation, observation, and explanation, interpretatio ...

, and

sexologist Sexology is the scientific study of human sexuality, including human sexual interests, behaviors, and functions. The term ''sexology'' does not generally refer to the non-scientific study of sexuality, such as social criticism. Sexologists app ...

. His scientific publications have been translated into many languages, such as English, German, and French.

Biography

Kon was born in Leningrad (now

St. Petersburg Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd and later Leningrad, is the second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. It is situated on the River Neva, at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. The city had a population of 5,601, ...

). He was evacuated during the

Siege of Leningrad The siege of Leningrad was a Siege, military blockade undertaken by the Axis powers against the city of Leningrad (present-day Saint Petersburg) in the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front (World War II), Eastern Front of World War II from 1941 t ...

and returned after the lifting of the blockade in 1944. He graduated from

Herzen State Pedagogical University Herzen University, or formally the Russian State Pedagogical University in the name of A. I. Herzen () is a university in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It was formerly known as the Leningrad State Pedagogical Institute. It is one of the largest ...

with a degree in

history History is the systematic study of the past, focusing primarily on the Human history, human past. As an academic discipline, it analyses and interprets evidence to construct narratives about what happened and explain why it happened. Some t ...

in 1947 and was awarded a

candidate of sciences A Candidate of Sciences is a Doctor of Philosophy, PhD-equivalent academic research degree in all the post-Soviet countries with the exception of Ukraine, and until the 1990s it was also awarded in Central and Eastern European countries. It is ...

degree by the same university in 1950. He was awarded the

doctor of sciences A Doctor of Sciences, abbreviated д-р наук or д. н.; ; ; ; is a higher doctoral degree in the Russian Empire, Soviet Union and many Commonwealth of Independent States countries. One of the prerequisites of receiving a Doctor of Sciences ...

degree by

Leningrad State University Saint Petersburg State University (SPBGU; ) is a public research university in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Russia. Founded in 1724 by a decree of Peter the Great, the university from the be ...

in 1959. Kon worked at a variety of academic institutions between 1950 and 1974, holding positions at the

Vologda Pedagogical Institute Vologda (, ) is a city and the administrative center of Vologda Oblast, Russia, located on the river Vologda within the watershed of the Northern Dvina. Population: The city serves as a major transport hub of the Northwest of Russia. The Mini ...

in 1950-52, the Leningrad Chemical-Pharmaceutical Institute (now St. Petersburg State Chemical-Pharmaceutical Academy) in 1953-56, Leningrad State University (now

St. Petersburg State University Saint Petersburg State University (SPBGU; ) is a public research university in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Russia. Founded in 1724 by a decree of Peter the Great, the university from the be ...

) in 1956-67, the Institute of Philosophy of the

Academy of Sciences of the USSR The Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union was the highest scientific institution of the Soviet Union from 1925 to 1991. It united the country's leading scientists and was subordinated directly to the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union (u ...

in 1967-68, the Institute of Concrete Social Research of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (now Institute of Sociology of the

Russian Academy of Sciences The Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS; ''Rossíyskaya akadémiya naúk'') consists of the national academy of Russia; a network of scientific research institutes from across the Russian Federation; and additional scientific and social units such ...

) in 1968-72, and the Institute of Social Sciences in 1972-74. He has been chief researcher of the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology at the Russian Academy of Sciences since 1974. Kon was one of the first Soviet scholars to write textbooks on

sociology Sociology is the scientific study of human society that focuses on society, human social behavior, patterns of Interpersonal ties, social relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life. The term sociol ...

. He is most famous as an expert on

sexology Sexology is the scientific study of human sexuality, including human sexual interests, Human sexual activity, behaviors, and functions. The term ''sexology'' does not generally refer to the non-scientific study of sexuality, such as social crit ...

and

sexual health Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is a field of research, health care, and social activism that explores the health of an individual's reproductive system and sexual well-being during all stages of their life. Sexual and reproductive healt ...

. He started studying these matters in the middle of the 1960s. His ''Vvedeniye v seksologiyu'' (''Introduction to Sexology''; 1988, 2005) was written as a textbook for universities. He believed that sexology cannot be confined to the bounds of medical problems, but rather is an independent interdisciplinary science rather than a branch of medicine. Interviewed by Sarah Keller for his profile in a 1989 issue of the

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...

magazine '' Mother Jones'', Kon stated: Kon was a member of numerous scientific societies, including the

International Academy of Sex Research The International Academy of Sex Research (IASR) is a scientific society for researchers in sexology. According to John Bancroft, retired director of the Kinsey Institute, IASR "can claim...most of the field's leading researchers." IASR is uniqu ...

, the

European Association of Experimental Social Psychology European, or Europeans, may refer to: In general * ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe ** Ethnic groups in Europe ** Demographics of Europe ** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe and other West ...

, the

International Sociological Association The International Sociological Association (ISA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to scientific purposes in the field of sociology and social sciences. It is an international sociological body, gathering both individuals and national sociol ...

, the Polish Academy of Sex Research, and the European Association for Adolescent Psychology.Human Rights and Homosexuality, Past Present and Future: Speakers and Moderators
(2010). Retrieved 2 March 2011 He was a member of the International Advisory Board of the

German Society for Social-Scientific Sexuality Research The German Society for Social-Scientific Sexuality Research (, ) is a sexuality research and counselling organization (cf. sexology) based in Düsseldorf, Germany. It is primarily devoted to sociological, behavioral, and cultural sexuality researc ...

Death

Igor Kon died in Moscow, aged 82, in 2011, from cancer.

Honors

Kon was awarded an honorary professorship from

Cornell University Cornell University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university based in Ithaca, New York, United States. The university was co-founded by American philanthropist Ezra Cornell and historian and educator Andrew Dickson W ...

in 1989 and received a ''

doctor honoris causa An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad hono ...

'' degree from the

University of Surrey The University of Surrey is a public research university in Guildford, Surrey, England. The university received its Royal Charter, royal charter in 1966, along with a Plate glass university, number of other institutions following recommendations ...

in 1992. In 2005, the

World Association for Sexual Health The World Association for Sexual Health (WAS) is an international umbrella organization representing sexological societies and sexologists worldwide. Founded in 1978 in Rome, Italy, the WAS main goal is to promote sexual health for all through ...

awarded Kon its Gold Medal for outstanding contributions to sexology. (2011). Retrieved 2 March 2011

Publications

* Kon, Igor & James Riordan (Eds.) (1993).
Sex and Russian Society
'. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press; . * Kon, I. (1989)
A History of Classical Sociology
'. Trans. H. Campbell Creighton. Moscow: Progress Publishers. . * Kon, I. (1995)
Sexual Revolution in Russia: From the Age of the Czars to Today
'. Trans. James Riordan. New York: Free Press; . * Kon, I. S. and Guseinov, S. N. (editors). ''A dictionary of ethics.'' Moscow : Progress Publishers. 1990. 455 p. * Kon, I. S. (editor). ''A history of classical sociology.'' Moscow : Progress Publishers. 1989. 376 p. Series title: Student's library. Translated by H. Campbell Creighton. * Alexandrov, Vladimir. * Volkov, F. M., Gubsky, Ye. F., Afanasyev, V. G., Ibrahim, Taufic, Imam, Zafar, Kon, I. S., Krivoguz, I. M., Petrovsky, A. V., Popov, Yu. N., Reza, Munis, Romanovsky, N. V., Tumanov, V. A., Vereshchetin, V. S., Zdravomyslov, A. G., and Zotov, V. D. (editors).
Essays in contemporary history : 1946 - 1990
'' Moscow : Progress Publishers. 1990. 71p. Series title: Student's library. Translated by Lev Bobrov. * Anderson, K. M., Bogina, Sh. A., Falkovich, S. M., Guseva, N. M., Islamov, T. M., Kovalskaya, M. I., Krivoguz, I. M., Lebedev, I. A., Losev, Yu. G., Mikhailov, M. I., Obolenskaya, S. V., Pavlova, T. A., Pritsker, D. P., Roginsky, V. V., Slezkin, L. Yu., Yurovskaya, Ye. Ye., and Zverev, A. M. * Yurovskaya, Ye., Volkov, F. M., Gubsky, Ye. F., Afanasyev, V. G., Ibrahim, Taufic, Imam, Zafar, Kon, I. S., Krivoguz, I. M., Petrovsky, A. V., Popov, Yu. N., Reza, Munis, Romanovsky, N. V., Tumanov, V. A., Vereshchetin, V. S., Zdravomyslov, A. G., and Zotov, V. D. (editors). ''Modern history : 1640 - 1870.'' Moscow : Progress Publishers. 1990. 51p. Series title: Student's library. Translated by Barry Jones. * Chuvilkin, O. D., Lomakin, V. K., Proshunin, N. N., and Vishnyakova, I. V. * Volkov, F. M., Gubsky, Ye. F., Afanasyev, V. G., Ibrahim, Taufic, Imam, Zafar, Kon, I. S., Krivoguz, I. M., Petrovsky, A. V., Popov, Yu. N., Reza, Munis, Romanovsky, N. V., Tumanov, V. A., Vereshchetin, V. S., Zdravomyslov, A. G., and Zotov, V. D. (editors). ''The political map of the world.'' Moscow : Progress Publishers. 1990. 44p. Series title: Student's library. Translated by Patty Beriozkina. * Getmanova, Alexandra. * Volkov, F. M., Gubsky, Ye. F., Afanasyev, V. G., Ibrahim, Taufic, Imam, Zafar, Kon, I. S., Krivoguz, I. M., Petrovsky, A. V., Popov, Yu. N., Reza, Munis, Romanovsky, N. V., Tumanov, V. A., Zdravomyslov, A. G., and Zotov, V. D. (editors). ''Logic.'' Moscow : Progress Publishers. 1989. 58p. Series title: Student's library. Translated by Stephen Smith. * Rakitov, Anatoly. * Volkov, F. M., Gubsky, Ye. F., Afanasyev, V. G., Kon, I. S., Krivoguz, I. M., Munis, Reza, Petrovsky, A. V., Popov, Yu. N., Romanovsky, N. V., Shuare, Marta, Taufik, Ibrahim, Tumanov, V. A., Zafar, Imam, Zdravomyslov, A. G., and Zotov, V. D. (editors). ''The principles of philosophy.'' Moscow : Progress Publishers. 1989. 66p. Series title: Student's library. Translated by H. Campbell Creighton.

References

External links

* (). {{DEFAULTSORT:Kon, Igor 1928 births 2011 deaths Russian LGBTQ rights activists Russian non-fiction writers Russian sociologists Russian health professionals Sexologists Academic staff of the Higher School of Economics Herzen University alumni