Summary

Shevchenko A.A. Minimal Rationality as a Problem.

It is generally recognized that postulates of rationality depend, in large part, on the type of discourse and context. Less attention is paid to the degrees of rationality. Of special interest is the notion of “minimal rationality”. Clarification of the postulates of minimal rationality is important for exploring the theoretical basis and presuppositions of understanding, as well as for classifying a certain practice as scientific (minimal scientific rationality) or philosophical (minimal rationality as a presupposition of philosophical knowledge). An attempt to bring out such presuppositions for the philosophy of science, political philosophy and general philosophical discourse involves consideration of a number of specific problems such as: the correspondence between rationality and commensurability, reflective equilibrium, the role and place of presuppositions in philosophical discourse.

Razumovsky O.S. Activity, Action, Operation, Act: an Analysis of Theories and Models.

The purpose of this article is to evaluate the results obtained in the philosophical theory of activity, the theories of operations, decision-making and optimology and their possible use for the development and a new synthesis of the philosophical theory of activity. The author attempts to solve the problem of building a conceptual and semantic bridge between these theories. The following model is proposed: activity – general activity – activity of behavioral systems – social activity – individual activity – action (work) – operation – act. This is a scheme of genus and differentia relationships of various levels of systemic activity.

Starikova I.V. Tselischev V.V. D. Dennett’s Holistic Theory of Consciousness.

The paper is devoted to the analysis of the ideas described in D. Dennett’s “Consciousness Explained” and the current discussion around his model.

The contemporary philosophy of mind proposes a wide variety of models and theories exploring the problem of consciousness. The authors distinguish two main tendencies in the modern understanding of this problem. The first is the tendency to use the latest scientific achievements and theories which make some philosophical statements concerning consciousness simply out-of-date. The second is the antidualistic tendency inherent in the Wittgensteinian tendency of dissolving philosophical problems rather than solving them. From this point of view the mind-body problem is, in many respects, just a typical philosophical puzzle, which has entailed most serious consequences for the European philosophy.

The most radical approach combining these two tendencies is D. Dennett's philosophical theory of consciousness. By taking the holistic line of replacing intrinsic with relational features he rejects special intrinsicality of consciousness and, in particular, asserts that “all awareness is a linguistic affair”.

Kuschenko S.V. The Mechanisms of Transformations in Social Consciousness.

The article examines the mechanism of replacing the dominants providing the stability of social consciousness with the help of the categories “transformation” and “transformation form”.

A methodological analysis of various approaches to the category “transformation” is offered.

The author also proposes an original approach for studying the mechanism of transformation in social consciousness distancing himself from idealism and mysticism on the one hand, and physiologism, on the other hand.

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Reznikov V.M. The Principle of the Necessity of Mathematics and Mathematical Practice.

The article offers a critical analysis of holistic methodological naturalism proposed by Quine as a possible philosophy of mathematics. Special attention is paid to the adequacy of Quine’s conception of mathematical practice. Some features of Quine’s conception are examined using, as an example, the analysis of the truth of statements about the so-called A2 sets, independent of ZFC axioms. According to the methodology of mathematics, the recognition of the legitimacy of the result is not connected with actual applicability of this result. Mathematicians do not trust the results in the degree they were used but only as long as these results were received in the form of theorems. Some foundations of Quine’s conception, such as the requirement of equal status for formal and substantive knowledge, are important for the methodology of applied mathematics, but on the whole, Quine’s conception is not adequate to mathematical practice and cannot be viewed as a viable alternative to formalism, logicism or intuitionism.

Goran V.P. Philosophy and the Blossoming of Democracy in Ancient Greece.

The passage from a monistic ontology to a pluralist one is compared with the atomization of society and development of democracy in Ancient Greece.

Kamelchuk E.N. D°kj in Hesiod’s Poems (On Axiological Premises of the Formation of the Theodicy Problem in the Ancient World Outlook).

The article is a sequel to the article “D°kj in Hesiod’s Poems” (see “The Humanities in Siberia”, 1999, №1) and aims at exploring the history of the formation of the concept of “justice” (d°kj), which plays an important role in the formulation and possible solutions of the problem of theodicy as a Weltanshauung problem. It is shown that in Hesiod’s poems we can see the strengthening of the legal sense of the term d°kj   = verdict, court (procedure and a social institution), demands on the court procedure, justice (in the legal sense), as well as the deepening of its moral and ethical comprehension. D°kj determines social activity which places it higher in the hierarchy than the main moral characteristic in Homer’s poems (a¸dðv). In the “Theogony” D°kj is deified as one of the Horae which gives it a cosmic character and enhances the status of social norms.

Afonasin E.V. A Christian Rethinking of the Pythagorean Symbolism in the Stromateis of Clement of Alexandria.

This paper discusses certain aspects of the philosophy of the second century Christian writer Clement of Alexandria. Special attention is given to the place of his philosophy in the context of both pagan and Christian philosophical and theological movements as they relate to the Neopythagorean tradition that was revived in the first century.

If we look upon the Pythagorean tradition as a part of the Classical heritage, transmitted to Late Antiquity, we will find it relatively well documented by the extant sources, fragments and testimonia, and much work has been recently done to clarify the subject matter. Clement of Alexandria as a ‘Neopythagorean Philosopher’ is relatively badly served, however. It will be useful therefore to collect various observations on this issue, which are scattered over different studies, in a single outline. The questions I discuss in the present paper are (1) what at all did Clement know about the Pythagoreans and (2) how and to which extend did he make use of them in his own philosophic contemplation and theological speculations?

Ragulin I.A. Samsonov V.V. On the Possible Influence of the Traditions of Cappadocian Theology on Boethius.

This article is the first formulation of the problem of possible influence of the Byzantine (to be more exact, Cappadocian) theology on the philosophy of Boethius Severinus. The starting point is the approach of Boethius towards the solution of some philosophical and theological problems which are not traditional for the Latin West and which clearly manifested itself in his latest works as well in certain circumstances of Boethius’ life. The article notes certain closeness of some of Boethius’ ideas, firstly, with the ideas developed in the tradition of Cappadocian theology by Vasily the Great (relating to the revision and adaptation of Aristotelian ontology and terminology) and, secondly, the closeness of anthropological notions of Boethius to similar views which found their final manifestation in isihasm.

Simanov A.L. Vaiśeśika Philosophy of Nature and Modern Cosmology: Possible Parallels.

The paper continues the analysis of the problems relating to a hypothetical possibility of using the vaiśeśika philosophy of nature in the modern cosmology. This part a investigated antique roots of the European epistemological tradition and is advanced the idea about incompatibility of the antique atomism and continualism on the one hand and the concepts of the vaiśeśika philosophy on the other hand.

Barbashina E.V. The Conceptions of the Philosophy of History in the Context of the History of Philosophy.

The main idea of this article is to show the special character of the historical dimension in modern and contemporary philosophy. The author demonstrates the interconnection between three main ideas of modern philosophy and the philosophy of history of that time. The main methodological approaches to various versions of the philosophy of history in contemporary philosophy (phenomenology, criticism, vitalism) are analyzed. The author proposes a new typology of the most important versions of the philosophy of history existing in contemporary philosophy.

Popkov Y.V. Internationalization: a New Look at the Old Problem.

Opposing the reductionist treatment of the phenomenon of internationalization prevalent in the literature, the author formulates the fundamentals of the reflexive conception of internationalization which is based on the understanding of this phenomenon as a process of a reflexive interaction of national communities. Reflexive interaction is that kind of interaction in the framework of which the development of each national community is realized through another national community while both remain organic wholes.

Beidina T.E. The Possibilities of Geopolitics for Studying Small Regional Values.

The article is an attempt to comprehend the modern geopolitical situation of Russia. It summarizes some results of the study of geopolitical problems and the role of Siberia in the territorial integration of Russia.

Rubantsova T.A. Education as a Factor of Social Stratification.

The article treats education as a factor of social mobility in modern society. It is based on sociological research of P. Sorokin, P. Bourdieu, D. Berto, A. Giddens, A. Stewart, K. Prendy, R. Blackburn. The author concludes that the role of education in modern society becomes more and more significant, it has become an integral part of the stratification characteristics of society. Education has direct or indirect influence on the economic status of the individual, his professional growth, movement on the social ladder, serves as a "lift" for the alignment of social positions.

Eremin S.N.. Science in Intercultural Interactions.

The paper examines the genetic aspects of intercultural relations influencing the formation of scientific knowledge and science as a social institution. Conditions determining the universal nature of scientific knowledge, as well as factors specifying science as an organic element of a certain culture are defined. The specifics of functioning of science in present-day Russia, the prospects and factors hampering its development under the conditions of modern intercultural interactions are revealed.

Gordienko A.A. Scientists and Specialists of the Highest Qualification in the Society in Crisis: Problems and Mechanisms of Adaptation.

The paper discusses the fundamental reasons for the severe psychological and emotional condition of a considerable number of the scientists and researchers in today’s Russia. The study is based on the research done at the Novosibirsk Scientific Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The paper also describes the mechanisms and the conditions of psychological support for this category of workers.

Chernenko A.K. Interaction of Law and Liberty: the Problem of Integration.

This paper examines one of the most sophisticated problems in the modern understanding of law, that is the problem of integration of law and liberty. The way of understanding integration lies in revealing its logical stages. At the first stage, the interaction of law and liberty manifests itself in the shape of formal legal freedom. At the second stage, it is natural legal freedom. The most substantive stage in the integration is the cognition of the inner connection existing between the positive and natural law. It has been demonstrated that this research sheds a new light on the law and its use as a methodological means of law creation and law application.

Bobrov V.V. Sustainable Social Development: the Legal Aspect.

The article continues a series of publications on the problem of sustainable social development. It analyzes theoretical and methodological foundations of the legal system in the context of violence, analyzing its main forms: physical, social, economic and spiritual. The author offers his formulation of the most topical tasks for law creation and law application in the interests of sustainable social development of society.

Kravets I.A. The Constitutional Hermeneutics: Problems of Determination and its Role in the Legal System.

The paper reveals the concept and juridical nature of construction of a specific version of legal norms that are presented in the Constitution. This way of interpretation can be defined as the constitutional hermeneutics, which is endemic in the most contemporary industrial democracies functioning under conditions of both the Romano-Germanic and Anglo-Saxon legal systems. The relationship between the concepts “judicial review”, “constitutional control”, “constitutional justice”, and “constitutional construction” is considered. The paper gives the analysis of circumstances, which caused the necessity of constitutional interpretation, and differences between the authoritative casual and normative construction of the Constitution of Russian Federation. The paper also substantiates the role of the constitutional hermeneutics in the processes of reformation of Russia’s legal system as a real factor of the constitutionalization of legal order, propagation of the direct functioning of the Constitution in other branches of law.

Guseinov L.G. The Objective Nature of International Obligations in the Sphere of Human Rights.

The article analyses the role of the principle of mutuality in the international obligations accepted by states for the protection of human rights. The author believes that the peculiar nature of these obligations is such that the principle of mutuality does not play any significant role here giving way to the collective provision of the fulfillment of these obligations.

Markov Y.G. The Social, Demographic, Ecological and Legal Aspects of Siberia's Development.

The paper examines the processes of development of Siberia's natural resources and estimates the emerging social-demographic and ecological situation. The author puts forward and argues for the thesis that for Siberia it is expedient to change the approach: from the strategy of development of natural resources to that which would make territories habitable by using chiefly renewable resources. Some possibilities of ecological and legal regulation of the processes of the formation of the stable settlement systems are examined. The author also raises a related question about the improvement of some existing legal institutions, the institution of ecological expertise in particular, in accordance with the requirements of sustainable development.