The article examines individual elements of the professional ethics of M. M. Kovalevsky as a scientist, educator, politician and civil servant. The purpose of the study is to analyze the professional ethics of M. M. Kovalevsky through the study of the scientist’s scientific and journalistic works, his memoirs «My Life» and the recollections of his colleagues.

The methodology of the proposed study involves using general scientific principles of objectivity and systematicity, biographical approach, problem-historiographic, historical-genetic, comparative-historical, historical-typological, problem-chronological, and other methods to reveal the chosen topic.

The scientific novelty of the article lies in the fact that for the first time the issue of professional ethics in the works of M. M. Kovalevsky and his diverse activities has become the subject of a separate study.

Conclusions. The prominent sociologist, jurist, historian, public and political figure M. M. Kovalevsky (1851–1916) adhered to a certain system of moral values and norms of behavior in his private life and various professional work. Therefore, it is no coincidence that he paid considerable attention in his scientific and journalistic works, in his practical activities to issues of professional ethics. M. M. Kovalevsky generally adhered to professional ethics as a scientist, a lecturer at universities in the Russian Empire, leading countries of Western Europe and the USA, a lawyer by profession, politician, deputy of the State Duma and member of the State Council. His life is an example of a successfully implemented life scenario. Unfortunately, there is no extensive intellectual biography of the outstanding scientist, which would describe with sufficient completeness the lifestyle of M. M. Kovalevsky, which skillfully and effectively combined creativity not only with teaching work, but also with public, political and other activities.

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