The central conflicts of the world today are closely related to cultural, traditional, and religious differences between nations. As we move to a globalized world, these differences often become magnified, entrenched, and the cause of bloody conflict. Growing out of a conference of distinguished scholars from the Middle East, Europe, and the United States, this volume is a singular contribution to mutual understanding and cooperative efforts on behalf of peace. The term paideia, drawn from Greek philosophy, has to do with (...) responsible education for citizenship as a necessary precondition for effective democracy. (shrink)

The central conflicts of the world today are closely related to cultural, traditional, and religious differences between nations. As we move to a globalized world, these differences often become magnified, entrenched, and the cause of bloody conflict. Growing out of a conference of distinguished scholars from the Middle East, Europe, and the United States, this volume is a singular contribution to mutual understanding and cooperative efforts on behalf of peace. The term paideia, drawn from Greek philosophy, has to do with (...) responsible education for citizenship as a necessary precondition for effective democracy. (shrink)

A large team of well-known Soviet scholars is currently preparing a new textbook in philosophy. We thought it might be useful to acquaint the broad philosophical public with the ideas that guided the authors in writing the textbook, and have included its table of contents, preface, and conclusion. We also, together with the team of authors, are hoping for readers' responses. The book will be published shortly by Politizdat Publishers.

Culture is a system of historically developing metabiological programs of human life activity that ensures the reproduction and alteration of social life in all of its major manifestations.

The essay examines the conditions that gave rise to undesirable trends in Russian economic transformation leading to creation of a market that the author refers to as a “wild” market opposing it to the form of market economy inherent in the West. Discussing specific archetypes of Russian mass consciousness and Russian system of fundamental values, the author emphasizes the importance of balancing the specific steps of contemporary economic reforms in the country against unique features of Russian mentality and cultural traditions.

The focus of the article is scientific rationality. Drawing from the historical development of science, the author identifies three main types of scientific rationality: classical rationality, nonclassical rationality, and post-nonclassical rationality. They are distinguished based on such criteria as 1) features of systematic organization of the objects studied by science; 2) the system of ideals and norms used in research; 3) different types of philosophical-methodological reflection on cognitive activity. The essay discusses each of the three identified types providing a thorough (...) analysis of their main features and characteristics. (shrink)

The various forms of human knowledge can be regarded as an integral, historically developing system. Universal cultural categories are a system-building factor. They form the core of the cultural and historical code by which a type of society is reproduced. The differences in the meaning of universals in traditional and technogenic cultures determine the difference in the organization of knowledge forms. The modern system of knowledge is developing under two general conditions: the search for a new worldview, as well as (...) the intensification of cross-cultural dialogue. The transition to the technological mastery of complex, historically evolving systems forms new images of nature from the scientific perspective, as well as new strategies of activity. These new images of nature accord not only with the values of the European culture, but correlate with the worldviews of different Eastern cultures which had previously been rejected as unscientific. (shrink)

Cet article présente une synthèse des tentatives d'analyse des transformations sociales, menées (respectivement) du point de vue de la civilisation et de celui de la formation. On formule l'idée de l'existence de différents modèles de développement de la civilisation. On dégage les valeurs fondamentales qui distinguent les modèles traditionalistes de société des modèles axés sur la technique. On examine les crises contemporaines liées à la mondialisation. On montre que la sortie de ces crises nécessitera une transformation des valeurs fondamentales de (...) la culture fondée sur la technique. A partir de ces positions, on révèle l'apparition en divers points de nouvelles valeurs dans la sphère de la religion, du discours politique et juridique, de la rationalité scientifique. On les interprète comme les prémisses d'une transition vers un nouveau modèle de développement de la civilisation. (shrink)

Cet article présente une synthèse des tentatives d'analyse des transformations sociales, menées (respectivement) du point de vue de la civilisation et de celui de la formation. On formule l'idée de l'existence de différents modèles de développement de la civilisation. On dégage les valeurs fondamentales qui distinguent les modèles traditionalistes de société des modèles axés sur la technique. On examine les crises contemporaines liées à la mondialisation. On montre que la sortie de ces crises nécessitera une transformation des valeurs fondamentales de (...) la culture fondée sur la technique. A partir de ces positions, on révèle l'apparition en divers points de nouvelles valeurs dans la sphère de la religion, du discours politique et juridique, de la rationalité scientifique. On les interprète comme les prémisses d'une transition vers un nouveau modèle de développement de la civilisation. (shrink)

This paper presents a series of analysis of social transformations, from the standpoints of civilizations and formations. The idea of multiple models of development of civilization is exposed. The fundamental values underscoring the traditional and technogenic models are presented. The contemporary crises are studied in its link to globalization. It is argued that, in order to overcome these crises, a substantial transformation of the values of the techngenic civilisation is needed. The upraising values in the spheres of religion, politics, law (...) and scientific rationality are seen as a first step towards a new model of development of our civilization. (shrink)

The article discusses the unique role of philosophy and philosophers in the changing world in the era where the basic values of technogenic civilization are falling apart creating new challenges for humanity. Reflecting on classic and non-classic approaches to philosophy and their often opposing interpretations of its goals, the author proposes to understand philosophy as a reflection on the worldview universals of culture and as a means to construct its new meanings.

Turning to the question of typology of the known civilizations, the essay divides them into two large groups – traditional and technogenic – and discusses the central characteristics and main differences of both of them.

From the Editors:Such was the topic considered by members of a new discussion club, "The Free Word" [Svobodnoe slovo] , along with specialists from the Institute of Philosophy, USSR Academy of Sciences.

From the Editors:Such was the topic considered by members of a new discussion club, "The Free Word" [Svobodnoe slovo], along with specialists from the Institute of Philosophy, USSR Academy of Sciences.