Abstract: This article discusses the image of philosophy in modern world in the context of synthesis of the various intellectual and cultural traditions. The author explores the correlation between philosophy and politics, knowledge and power as a certain discursive practice that in an organic part of Western European culture; demonstrates the limits on establishing dialogue between philosophical traditions, schools and strands of thought. Leaning on the ideas of Kant and Foucault in viewing the phenomenon of Enlightenment, the author analyzes the role and place of a philosopher in the political and intellectual environment. The procedure of double sample realized by the philosopher holds the risk of losing its position on the pedestal taken by intellectualism and serve ideology instead, since orientation towards socially-pragmatic actions inevitably requires involvement into a political game. It demands conscious demarcation of the two types of decisions made: on the one hand, it is an existential choice pertinent to the held by philosopher intellectual position; while on the other – a socially-pragmatic, associated with interval choices, not affecting the ultimate grounds of existence. Due to the fact that preservation of the autonomy of philosophical territory in the era of globalization is an acute problem, there is a need for extremely cautious attitude to any attempts of shifting traditions and cultures, which usually assign primary role to the “philosophical reason”.

Abstract: This article touches upon issues related to the possibility of maintaining the unity of self-consciousness in the temporal continuity, the difference between self-identification and self-consciousness, as well as the role of the subject in the process of self-constructing. Modernity provides a large number of technologies for self-identification. They create a simplified image of self-consciousness: self-awareness is understood as a thing endowed with certain qualities. Their disadvantage is not only that they offer a simplified, schematic view of an individual, a pattern into which much, if not all, can fit. These self-identification technologies are often misunderstood, identified with the process of self-consciousness. Therefore, it is necessary to distinguish the procedures of self-identification and the process of self-consciousness, ― it does not lend itself to patterns. Self-identification is a technological process. Self-consciousness is an intuitive-interpretive activity, not a discursive one. The article presents the desubstantivist concept of “Self”, demonstrates the need for introduction of temporality into the concept of “Self”, how self-conscious activity unfolds in time, what is its specificity, and how it differs from the procedure for self-identification.

Abstract: This article examines the role of mass media in establishment of the modern social communication space. Special attention is given to the socio-philosophical concepts of G. Debord, P. Virilio, N. Postman, J. Baudillard, T. Adorno, M. Horkheimer, and H. Marcuse, which depict mass media as the power that “derealizes reality”, manipulates public opinion, as well as produces a destructive effect on personality. The analysis of ambivalent potential of media industry through referring to the works of the leading scholars in this area allows prudently assessing both – the critical theories that underline the negative impact of mass media; and the apologetic concepts of M. McLuhan and G. Vattimo that indicate the positive impact of mass media, resulting in establishment of a unified global communication space. The research demonstrates that the destructive role of mass media is quite exaggerated. Mass media design the global communication space, but their role lies not in imposing any truths or values upon the audience, but rather create the conditions for mutual understanding the consensus for an extensive circle of the subjects of communication, suggesting various discursive topics and discussion schemes.