Towards a new ontology of economics

The article attempts to look at the ontology of economic science from the standpoint of the dual nature of the human personality, which combines two principles – individualism and collectivism. The purpose of this study is to identify the true nature of man, who is not a one-dimensional individualist, but also has features of collectivism, i.e. the desire and ability to live in society. The author puts forward and seeks to prove the following hypothesis: individualism and collectivism are simultaneously inherent in the human personality and inevitably manifest themselves in its vital interests, including economic ones. The research methodology, based on taking into account the objective and subjective factors of economic life, allows us to identify the genesis of public interests as a continuation of the collectivist principle in man himself, as well as to characterize and typologize public goods in their combination with private goods. Based on the analysis, the one-sidedness of methodological individualism is shown, which takes into account only the egoistic nature of man and not his collectivist principle. The overwhelming majority of society, with the help of the state, forces the disobedient minority to obey the rules of community life, without which social life is impossible. As a result of the study, the main conclusion is made about the need to replace methodological individualism with the principle of methodological dualism, postulating a dialectical combination of individualistic and collectivist inclinations of people.