Abstract: This article examines the points of view of modern scholars, pedagogues and theologians upon the problem of the loss of spirituality in the current system of education in Russia. The authors analyze the two extreme opinions. The first one consists in the need for reviving the spiritual component in education. The loss of spirituality in this sphere led to dropping of value orientations, national unity and cultural identity of the modern generation of Russians. The second opinion reflects the views of scholars that in the information society an individual can combine the qualities of intellectual ruler of life and spirituality. In this case, the loss of spirituality is considered a natural human improvement process. As a result of the analysis of both points of view on the role of spirituality within the modern education system, the authors believe that the solution should be found in harmonization of secular and religious education in the conditions of development of information society. This problem could be solved with introduction of theology as a scientific specialty, which would allow preparing theologians of new generation. The next stage in studying this problematic would consist in the examination of experience of implementation of theological education in different Russian universities, namely Kozma Minin Nizhny Novgorod State Pedagogical University, since it features Bachelor’s and Master’s programs of Orthodox theology.

Abstract: Under the conditions of developing information society both social system and essential (generic) personality features undergo transformation. These transformations have both positive and negative consequences. Today there are a lot of researches which authors try to find and analyze what causes such transformations. Having analyzed researches devoted to this issue, the authors of the present article discover that researchers ignore one of the main reasons of negative personality transformations which is transformation of socialization process. In the course of their research the authors have studied and analyzed results of both Russian and foreign researches on the matter. The research methodology includes the theory of activity and theory of socialization developed by Nizhi Novgorod Club 'Universum' headed by L. Zelenov as well as the concept of information socialization offered by E. Gryaznova. The results of the research demonstrate that the main reason for personality transformation in the process of information socialization is the replacement of an actual actor of socialization with an informative quasi-actor. At the personalization stage generic features of personality are subject to transformation as a result of changes in structural elements of three main subsystems of culture (informative, praxiological and axiological subsystems). To adjust to rapidly changing conditions created by information culture, human has to change at the level of human essence. The language, activity and communication methods are transformed, too. 

Abstract: This article makes an attempt to substantiate the possibility for development of the categories of “information culture” and “psychological virtual reality” within the framework of information concept of virtual reality. Special attention is given to the critical analysis of the concept of “psychological virtual reality”, which is widely used in modern philosophical and psychological literature. This aspect of research allows proceeding with the analysis of the problem of transformation of consciousness as a generic quality of a human in terms of the development of information culture. The conducted analysis demonstrates that the advancement of categories of “information culture” and “psychological virtual reality” within the framework of information concept of virtual reality is possible, because the phenomena determined by these categories have informational essence. Studying of consciousness as a form of existence of information culture in terms of the concept of virtual reality will help reaching the problems of transformation as one of the key generic qualities of a human in the conditions of evolution of the modern sociocultural space of the virtual-information reality.

Abstract: The subject of research is the development of methods of diagnostics of the motivational system of the personality in distance learning, the traditional Russian folk embroidery is based on a "map of interests". The object of study is distance education. Special attention the authors pay to the development of a questionnaire to determine the motivation of the student. Obtained after processing the results of the "map of interests", allows students to determine the appropriate level of training. The paper presents the results of approbation of the developed technique. This technique helps to prevent communication problems in the system "teacher - student" in distance learning.As main methods of research used the method of analysis and generalization, practical testing of teaching methods, the method of compilation of the questionnaire, the technique of "map of interests".The scientific novelty of the research is caused by the fact that for the first time in Russian pedagogy, the design methodology of the motivational system of the personality in distance learning, the traditional Russian folk embroidery.The developed method allows to choose an individual trajectory of training, expands the possibilities for constructive dialogue in the system "teacher - student" in distance learning.

Abstract: This article is the sequence of publication dedicated to the problem of formation of methodological culture of young scholars. The previous parts of the article were published on the paged of NOTABENE scientific journal. The goal of this research is to demonstrate the applicability of pedagogical principles and approaches pertinent to formation of methodological culture of young scholars at lecture and practice sessions tested in the course of longstanding work with the particular batch of students. “Genesis of Science” was selected as the theme of lecture, as it encompasses multiple disciplines of Master’s and postgraduate curriculums in various aspects. Special attention is given to the questions of creating the comprehensive theoretical, methodological and practical bases of educational courses on the example of the disciplines “Philosophy of Science” and “Methodology of Scientific Work”. The presented pedagogical approaches can be implemented in practice, making the lecture material interesting, relevant, accessible, as well help the students to create holistic comprehension of the objectives and tasks of the discipline, and realize the practical importance of the acquired theoretical knowledge. The inclusion of the elements of methodology of scientific knowledge into the theoretical material contributes to mastering the methodological culture by young scholars, which is one of the key educational goals.

Abstract: As globalization marches, transformations of social space occur in both, the global society and separate countries alike. This study views globalization as a factor of social conflict growth, and one of the major sources of growth of tensions between the parties of modern civilization. The authors focus attention on numerous aspects of the issue, such as economic development disparity between countries, intercultural, inter-ethnic conflicts on numerous levels of social space. The chief methods of study include analysis of academic studies on the issue, as well as the methods of comparison and generalization.
The analysis performed by the authors revealed that the reasons of social conflict lie in the nature of the society and ensure its development. However, the process of globalization may catalyze the so-called primary conflicts till they reach catastrophic scale, becoming unmanageable by any single social subject. Being the source of social conflict, globalization reveals the need for change in the system of management which must be able to control the level of social tension and efficiently handle its negative consequences.
 
 

Abstract: The goal of this work is demonstration of the possibilities of implementation of the pedagogical principles and methods in formation of methodological culture of a young scholar at the lectures and practice, tested in the course of multiyear work with the indicated set of students. As an example, the author selected the topic “Definition of the concept of science”, because it is included to multiple disciplines of masters and postgraduate programs in various aspects. Special attention is given to the problem of creation of the integral theoretical, methodological and practical foundations of educational courses based on the example of the disciplines “Philosophy of Science” and “Methodology of Scientific Activity”. The key methods of research contain the analytical overview of scientific culture, analysis, generalization, classification, principles of didactics, individual approach to a student in terms of the collective work, systematicity and sequence, stability in knowledge and skills, correlation of theory and practice. The listed pedagogical methods can be implemented in practice by the educators in creation of the learning courses for magistrates and postgraduates. In particular, they make the lecture material more interesting and relevant, help the students to create a holistic understanding of the goals and tasks of the studied subject, as well as the practical importance of the acquired theoretical knowledge. Inclusion of the elements of methodology of scientific knowledge into theoretical material conduces the more efficient achievement of one of the major goals of education – attainment of methodological culture by young scholars.

Abstract: The relevance of the research is dictated by the fact that in modern conditions of development of the information society, information culture goes beyond the narrow understanding of knowledge and skills necessary to work with the information systems. It represents a basic subsystem of culture of the information civilization, an independent type of culture within the system of information society, and most important cultural element of a modern person. Typological analysis systematizes the expanding conceptual framework in studying of the information culture. The key research methods are the following: typological analysis, summarization, typology, classification, systematization, comparison, generalization, as well as civilization, subject-object, sphere, activity approaches. Analytical overview of the scientific studies is conducted. The author analyzed and systematized the main types of information culture examined within the culturology, information culturology, and social philosophy. The conducted analysis allowed substantiating the need and possibility of development of multi-level typology of the information culture and reaching the idea of establishment of the attributive and a functional concept of information culture

Abstract: The subject of this research is the theoretical grounds of establishment of the attributive concept of welfare state, while the object is the welfare state. Special attention is given to such questions, as the problem of genesis of the welfare state, identification of the essence, goals, and key functions, and analysis of modifications of the welfare state. The study of theoretical grounds of establishment of the attributive concept of welfare state is accompanied by the analysis of historical examples of the evolution of such phenomenon and discussion of the current relevant issues that confirm the proposed theoretical positions. The result of this work consists in formulation of the key positions of the attributive concept of welfare state: sociality, genesis, essence, functions, and basis of typology. The developed theoretical grounds of the concept of welfare state are necessary for examination of such questions, as the state, society and people, state’s social functions, state social management, which comprises the subject of further research.

Abstract: The subject of this research is the methodological principles of the study of social state. The object is the welfare state. Special attention is given to the questions associated with the formulation of methodology of research of the welfare state throughout the process of its establishment and development. Relevance of this work is dictated by the fact that as the notion of welfare state has ambiguous interpretation, causes by the ambiguity of interpretation of the research methodology. The author suggest reviewing the possible options of resolution of the methodological problems in examining the welfare state, which will allow developing the promising models of welfare state that require the demands of modernity. During the course of this work, it was substantiated that “welfare” is the attribute of the state. The main issue of the inaccuracy of methodology consists in shifting away from the dialectics and its principles or their inappropriate application. The scientific novelty lies in substantiation of the need for formulation of the attributive concept of welfare state.

Abstract: In the information society, social experience cannot be transmitted only by traditional methods. Modern man is forced from an early age to take in information interaction occurring in the field of information reality created by modern information technology. Thus, the second period of socialization – individualization, which is the most active stage of education and upbringing of a person is largely not under the control of real social actors and information quasisurjectivity. The article discusses the possible negative consequences of this individualization. The study of individualization as traditional stage and information of socialization used subject-to-subject approach. The paper used methods of analysis and synthesis. The main findings of the study is justification of the fact that individualization in the information of socialization has both positive and negative consequences. The most dangerous are: the possibility of forming the average, the universal identity, devoid of belonging to a national culture. The reason is not only the transfer of information socialization in reality, the transfer functions of the management of this process information quasispherical.

Abstract: The article debates the possibility and principles of constructing a typology of social conflict in the information society. The authors examined the basic methodological principles of analysis of social conflicts, and the architecture of the typology used in social Sciences for more traditional societies and came to the conclusion that there is a "matrix" of social conflict. In the information society, this "matrix" has not fundamentally different. The changes in its elements lead to the birth of a new kind of social conflict - information conflict. The main methods of the study include analysis, generalization, and typology. The authors examined the studies of both, past and modern researches in the social-philosophical field knowledge. Over the course of their work, the authors saw the possibility of building a typology of social conflict in the information society on the basis of existing classic social-humanitarian approaches and methods: social interaction, structural-functional, subject-subject and subject-object. The information society gives birth to a new type of social conflict - information conflict. It arises and escalates based on the principles of the "matrix" of social conflict, but has an important peculiarity - information elements in its structure. This requires the study and development of different principles of conflict management, which requires the construction of a typology of information conflict, and that will be the focus of our future works.

Abstract: The subject of this research is the book by K. K. Kolin and A. D. Ursul “Information and Culture. Introduction into the information Culturology”. The author gives special attention to the analysis of the relevant questions expressed in this book, which are associated with the problems of informatization and transition towards the global information society, as well as formation of the new to such society phenomenon of “information culture”. The article suggests structuring of the typology of information culture and examines the examples of implementation of this typology for further development of the “information culturology” as a scientific direction. The main conclusions consist in the following:
1. The peer reviewed material fully reveals the main aspects of the scientific discipline “Information culturology” in five directions: subjectology, terminology, methodology, nomology, and praxeology.
2. As a recommendation, we should note the following:
- The phenomenon “information culture” should be more specifically typologized;
 - The notion “virtual reality” should be used based on the information concept; it will help to avoid its identification with the notion “social reality”’;
  - Praxeology of the scientific discipline requires a more reliable and contemporary factual and statistical material on the presented issues.  

Abstract:  The subject of this work is the IT-competence in the information culture of municipal education management. The object is the municipal Informatization of education management. The author examines the main reasons of the inefficient application of the results of Informatization of education management at the municipal level. Special attention is paid to the problem of formation of the IT-competence of the municipal officials. Particularly, it is proposed to develop the algorithms for the purpose of improvement of IT- competencies of the municipal officials based on the continuous and advanced education. The structure of the It-competencies suggests the three basic components: cognitive, axiological, and praxeological. The main conclusion of the conducted research consists in the substantiation of the following position: in order to prevent the risks associated with the inefficient application of the results of Informatization of education system, it is necessary to develop the algorithms of increase of the IT-competencies of the municipal officials based on the continuous and advanced training. At the same time, such type of professional competencies must be a systemic element of information culture of education management.

Abstract: This article examines the question of implementation of a project method at the “visual arts” school lesson within the framework of the visual arts bachelor’s program.  The relevance of this work consists in the fact that the project method which allows forming the foundations of scientific culture among the elementary school student, is included into the bachelor’s program methodology. This methodology is being tested over the period of two years within the main educational program of the municipal education facility of the city of Reutov “Gymnasium”, as well as meets the educational standards of the elementary education in the Russian Federation, the program of the initial stage of International Bachelor’s Program – PYP (Primary Years Program). The article presents the methodological recommendations and pedagogical experience on the example of the program “I am a researcher”, which is based on the project method as an element of bachelor’s program methodology of the future pedagogues of visual arts. The main conclusion consists in substantiation that the project method in its implementation into the “visual arts” educational program allows forming the elements of scientific culture among students, as well as can be included into the methodology of the teachers of art bachelor’s program.

Abstract: The subject of this study is the scientific approaches implemented in the conditions of distance pedagogy. The authors examine three main approaches within the traditional pedagogy: pragmatic, personal-oriented, and metathematic; later, they analyze the specificity of the adjustment of these scientific educational approaches in the conditions of distance pedagogy. A special attention is given to the comparison of positive and negative sides of application of these approaches within the traditional and distance pedagogy. During the course of this research, the authors refer to the publications of scholars, who study the issues of implementation of various scientific theories and approaches in both, the traditional, as well as in distance pedagogy. The authors come to a conclusion that the scientific methods applied within the traditional pedagogy fairly easily adjust to the terms of distance pedagogy. At the same time, distance pedagogy is able to balance some of the negative sides of the implementation of the scientific educational approaches, manifesting in the traditional pedagogy.

Abstract: The research subject is information culture in the system of municipal education administration. The research object is informatization of municipal education administration. The authors consider the information culture model consisting of five main elements:1. Informational competence of municipal officers2. Information and technical support for education management3. Communication between administration entities.4. Informational competence of consumers of educational services.5. Information and legal provision of education managementSpecial attention is paid to the analysis of each element, which is held on the basis of statistical data and scientific publications. The main methods of research are the methods of analysis, generalization and comparison, the structural method, the methodology of statistical data studying, the elements of the information approach. The main findings of the study are:1. The existing information culture models don't take into account the two important elements related to the IT-competencies of the subjects of management and the consumers of educational services.2. The study of these two components in municipal entities shows that they are still underdeveloped as compared to other components; this situation leads to the reduction of the level of information culture in general.3. The article substantiates the necessity to use the five-element model of information culture, which should serve as the basis for the development of municipal programs of education informatization. 

Abstract: The research subject is the range of problems of municipal management personnel training in the system of information culture. The research object is the workforce capacity of municipal entities. The author considers the set of problems of municipal management personnel training existing in Russia. Special attention is paid to the problem of a low level of information potential of municipal officials, which is considered as an element of the information culture system. Information potential as a dialectical unity of information needs and capacities of the subjects of management provides for the effective use of the results of informatization in the management of municipal entities. The research methodology is based on the methods of analysis and generalization, the activity approach, the method of typologies building. The author applies the method of processing and reporting sociological data. The research results show that the main reason for a low level of information potential of municipal officials is an inadequate development of algorithms of professional training and reskilling of municipal officers in the discipline “Information culture of municipal officers”. For its development, it is necessary to know properly the structure of information potential as an element of information culture, to be able to formulate the necessary professional requirements for municipal officers training in the context of municipal management informatization. 

Abstract: Realization of the tasks on modernization of the Russian healthcare system aimed at increasing the affordability and quality of the medical help rendered to the population requires new approaches towards planning, management, and financing. There is currently a problem of the insufficient financing of the healthcare system and the irrational use of the resources of this industry; it particularly refers to the outpatient-clinical activity. The solution to these problems requires the informatization of the management in this area. There is lack of scientific researches that allow assessing the affordability, quality, and effectiveness of the first medical assistance within the outpatient-clinical industry using the information technologies. In the course of this work, it is demonstrated that the level of informatization within the Russian healthcare system is quite low. The major problems that affect the quality of management in the healthcare system consists in the insufficient financing of the development of IT-technologies for healthcare, as well as in the imperfection of the legislative base of the digital healthcare and electronic document management. The author believes that in order to increase the quality of management of the outpatient-clinical activity, it is necessary to implement the analytical and decision-making modules, and conduct the monitoring of the results of informatization to eliminate the emerging issues.

Abstract: Abstract: the Purpose of this article is to study the process of Informatization of education management and identify the existing problems and prospects of its development in conditions of modernization of the education system.In the study, the authors analyze the normative-legal base, regulating the Informatization of management education, studying scientific papers on the problems of Informatisation of education and identify existing problems and prospects of realization of Informatization of education management in modern Russia. The article presents examples of activities in the field of Informatization of education management Department of education of Moscow and other regions.As main methods of research are used analysis, comparison, generalization, the study of legal literature, the principles of consistency and specificity. The study of problems of Informatization of education management has shown that in the conditions of modernization of the education system not only alters its structure and functionality, but also system management, which places special demands to the process of Informatization. Informatization affects not only the technical side of things, but mostly concerns the human factor. It is about the role of information culture in the Informatization of education management.

Abstract: The research subject is information infrastructure of municipal management. The research object is municipal management informatization. The authors pay special attention to the analysis of the principles of development of information infrastructure of municipal management. In particular, they consider the experience of information infrastructure forming in the municipalities of the Russian Federation, reveal the main components of information infrastructure, and consider the structure of its main elements. The authors analyze the current problems of establishing and implementing information infrastructure of municipal management. The research methods include analysis, comparison, and generalization, the structural-functional method, the elements of information approach. The authors conclude that information infrastructure of municipal management can be understood as a set of the following elements: information potential of the subjects of management; information flows and resources; information instruments; legal provision regulating the efficiency of information infrastructure. The research novelty lies in the substantiation of the necessity to include information potential of management subjects into the information structure of municipal management. The study of municipal programs shows that this element is not taken into consideration, thus leading to the inefficient use of infware. 

Abstract: The subject of the research is the analysis of problems and prospects of education management development at the municipal level. The object of the study is education management at the municipal level. The author considers the modern principles and the normative base of education management in municipalities. Special attention is paid to examining the trends in education management and the challenges faced by municipalities in the information society and in the process of transition to the system of "electronic state". The material can be used for updating the courses on the "Municipal management" subject. The main research methods are the method of analysis, generalization, processing of statistical data, the method of analysis of normative-legal documentation. The main conclusions of the research are:1. The study of the modern trends of municipal education management development shows that the optimization process of the education system is based on informatization thus requiring the change of the management principles. At the municipal level, these changes are not implemented effectively.2. The main reason for this situation is not only the imperfection of the legislative base and economic inequality of municipalities, but also a low level of information culture of this social institution.

Abstract: the Subject of research is the study of the role of the information space of corporate culture as a factor effectivnogo health development.This article is a continuation of studies of the problems of Informatisation of public health, published NotaBene. The author considers in detail the structural elements of the information space of the corporate culture and their role in health development. In the work special attention is paid to this element of corporate culture as an information subsystem of a person. In particular the problem of formation of information culture in the health system at the level of personnel training and retraining.As the main research methods used in the work of the analytical method, activity-based approach, information approach, typology, generalization. Research has shown that one of the problems of Informatisation of health care is the low level of information culture of the potential of medical personnel.Information space formed on the basis of the information of the

Abstract: The subject of this research is social memory in the system of culture. The aim of the present study was to identify the place and role of social memory in the system of culture. This is through the solution of several problems:1. An analysis of the concept of social memory.2. The study of typology of social memory.3. The place and role of social memory in the system of culture. The paper presents an overview and analysis of the various approaches to the study of social memory. The main focus of the work done on the typology of social memory on the basis of the information approach. As the main methods of research used the method of analysis, synthesis, typology, structural-functional method, information approach, activity approach. The main conclusions of the research are:1. The study of the concept of "social memory" showed that its content differs depending on the approach used in the study.2. The use of information approach to the study of social memory as a concept and as a phenomenon allowed us to determine:social memory is the carrier of culture;- the most comprehensive typology of social memory is the typology constructed on the basis of the information approach, where it is considered as a type of social information.

Abstract: One of the strategic tasks of the modern helathcare management is achieve a high level of professionalism of the medical workers. One of the key professional competences required by the medical professionals in their work is the information technologies awareness. However, the relevant literature only poorly reflects the research on the level of professional qualifications of healthcare personnel regarding work under the conditions of the active IT development of the field. In this connection, there is a need for a research on the level of infosociolisation of the human resources of the healthcare of Russia from the point of view of the national strategic management tasks, analysis and systematisation of current issues existing in this field. Methodological basis of the research consists of analytical and documental methods, as well as federal and regional laws and statutes regulating the development of healthcare andmedical science; publications in periodicals and materials of scientific conferences. Implementation and full use of information systems in the Russian healthcare management is complicated by the low level of infosociolisation of human resources.Effective management in the information-oriented society requires unification of documents, improvement of the documentation flow system, implementation of modern information technologies, reports and other information and analysis materials, elaboration of requirements for the personnel databases for the system analysis, prognoses and modelling of the development of human resources.

Abstract: Unlike the tradional society, the information-based society has a new form of personality socialization – 'information socialization' when social experience is passed on indirectly by means of information technologies. Remote pedagogical activity appears to be one of the mechanisms of similar socialization making changes to formation of human culture in general. Studying of specifics of this kind of activity opens the new scientific direction of pedagogy – remote pedagogy The remote pedagogy has to correspond to criteria of the scientific direction, i.e. to have the subject, categories, laws, methodology and a praxiology. The conducted research shows that in scientific literature there are no works devoted to complex studying of this phenomenon. It is proved that the existing scientific and pedagogical potentials allow to develop a matrix of remote pedagogy as a scientific direction and can form a basis for the solution of the whole range of problems of social and humanitarian knowledge that may arise in the process of implementation of pedagogical technology meeting the requirements of modern society. The main research methods used by the authors include system approach, structure functional analysis, activity approach and the method of philosophical generalization. The main conclusions of the conducted research are:
Considering the developing information society there is a need to conduct a system and complete study of remote pedagogical activity within the scientific discipline "Remote Pedagogy" as a modern direction of philosophy of education.The philosophical knowledge in this case has to become a methodological basis for the development of this direction and take the modern pedagogy to a new methodological and worldview level.

Abstract: The subject of the research is the problems and prospects of information culture of medical institutions. The author investigates the problem of the formation and implementation of information culture at medical institutions in today's Russia. In her article Gryaznova also focuses on the problems associated with the management and control of health care considering the growing informational support of public health service. Particular attention is paid to developing human resources of the information culture that is based on quite a new phenomenon for our country - corporate culture. Thus, information culture, corporate culture and management are the elements of the same system.The main research methods used by the author include the systems approach, categories and concepts used in the informational approach as well as the analysis and synthesis methods. The results of the study demonstrate that the main problems of information culture of health care are the following:1. Funds of the informational support of the public health system are insufficient for developing the kind of information culture of health care that would meet the requirements of the information society.2. There are no common standards to ensure compatability of different information systems in health care which hinders the process of the development of information culture medium.3. The process of the development of information culture in health care is also affected by the lack of human resources in public health in general.

Abstract: The study analyzes the relationship of public health problems in Russia and quality of life. The urgency of research stems from the fact that the new health reform in our country has led to a decrease in the quality and availability of medical services. The main wealth of any country is human potential. The basic characteristic of human potential is the quality of life since every person is a representative of the state. The quality of life is a social indicator rather than an economic one and its basic criterion is the state of health. The study of the relationship between the health system operation and the quality of life will allow to improve the methods aimed at enhancement of life quality management in the future. The main research methods involve analysis, comparison and generalization, statistical analysis as well as a systematic approach.
The study has found that the quality of life depends on the following factors: - public health quality and capacity;
- type of economic health care model;
- health system management performance;
- interests and goals of subjects of management as well as results of managerial decisions;
- level of informatization and management of the health system.

Abstract: In this article the option of creation of the second lecture of the course "History and Philosophy of Science" is offered. Material of the first lecture was published in work earlier: Gryaznova of E.V. The Subject of the Philosophy of Science //NB: Philosophical researches. - 2013. - Issue No. 6. - Pages 514-529. In the presented material the multilevel concept of methodology of scientific knowledge with analysis of examples of use of various methods of scientific research in science philosophy in detail is considered. The special attention is paid to a dialectic method since in modern dissertation researches it ceased to play a key role that reduces quality of the last. Feature of creation of this material is that in the course of a statement it is offered not only to acquaint listeners with the existing methodology of scientific research, but also on concrete examples from their dissertation researches to fulfill possibility of its application. In work laws and the principles of dialectics, the analysis and synthesis, the principles of didactics, elements of interactive pedagogical technologies are used. This material was approved when carrying out occupations with graduate students and undergraduates. Thanks to interactive technologies and to existence of interrelation between the stated material and dissertation researches of listeners, material is acquired purposefully and helps into practice to practice to put the gained knowledge. The presented article can become a methodological and didactic element for teachers of higher education institution who develop and give courses on "History and philosophy of science", "Methodology of scientific researches".

Abstract: The article presents materials for giving a lecture 'The Subject of Philosophy of Science' as a part of the course 'History and Philosophy of Science' for post-graduate students. It is suggested that the lecture should be started with discussing the status of science in modern Russia. The article contains statistical data and graphs for carrying out such a discussion. Such approach would allow post-graduate students to understand the purpose of the course and what the course may give to the future generation of scientists. The lecture is a part of the following range of topics:
1. Philosophy of science and its status.
1.1. The Subject of philosophy of science
1.2. Scientific method of philosophy of science.
1.3. Categories of philosophy of science.
1. 4. Patterns of philosophy of science.
1. 5. Basic modern concepts of philosophy of science.
The article contains basic information and can be adjusted for any major or speciality.

Abstract: This article provides a critical generalised analysis of modern concepts of virtual reality. The need for this research has come about due to the absence of a common understanding of the concept of virtual reality in modern scientific and philosophical literature. This has led not only to various misunderstandings, but has also distorted the meaning of many existing and well-established definitions in philosophy. For example, the most common concept of virtual reality today - psychological - has been reduced to the identification of the concept of "virtual" with the notion of "subjective", while the sociological concepts of virtual reality have replaced "virtual" with the term "social", and so on. As a result, the New Philosophical Encyclopedia now lacks one of the basic philosophical defintions ("perfection"), but instead includes "virtual reality" as a term from the field of psychology.
The article presents the author's informational conception of virtual reality, highlighting generic characteristics of virtual phenomena of abiotic, biotic, psychological, social and technical worlds.

Abstract: The modern Russia is going through a complicated period in its historical development. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the reforms and modernization of the state have no analogues in the world.  It is impossible to just take ready samples and apply them to a territorially vast and multinational subject of global community. Nevertheless, the studies show that Russia is at a critical point of its development. Either the state shall go out of crisis situation and into the path of sustainable development, or it shall be one of the "fragile" states.  In this article we analyze the existing definitions of "fragile" states and their criteria.  Using these criteria, we attempt to understand how close is Russia to the situation of a "fragile" state. In our study we used statistical datat from various sources, both Russian and foreign, as well as a large amount of information and analytical materials from official websites of scientific research centers and the Government of the Russian Federation. The studies concern the period of last six years.  The article includes analysis of Russia based upon the criteria of a "fragile" state in several spheres: living standard of the population (accessibility and quality of education, health care, social guarantees, housing, working conditions, etc.), efficiency of state administration (democracy index, protection of human rights, corruption level, national policy, etc.), efficiency of economic activities of the state (monopolism level, development of internal and external economic relations, development of small and medium-sized businesses, formation of the middle class, tax and budget policy of state, etc.). The study has shown that currently in Russia there is a low level of investment into the human capital, which is the basic element at the time of reforms.  The administration technologies, sensitivity of economy to innovations and living standards are at unsatisfactory levels.  In the opinion of the authors the main reasons for this situation is the lowering intellectual potential of the society, which is reflected in the existing negative tendencies in the systems of science, education and culture.