Abstract: The subject of the study is the phenomenon of the absurd in Irish fiction and its relation to philosophical discourse. Absurdist fiction is proposed to be analyzed from the point of view of the philosophical meanings embedded in it. Most often, this is the interpretation of the absurd as a concept meaning a person's discord with the world. The novel by the Irish writer Ó Cadhain is considered as representing the absurdity of the human existence. In the analysis of the novel, the methods of modern cultural knowledge were used: the description of various sociocultural trends and phenomena, their theoretical generalization. The purpose of the work is to clarify the meaning of the absurd for the constitution of human existence.  The article explores the connection of the realities present in the novel with the philosophy of traditionalism. The absurd is investigated as an indicator of the "silencing" of meaning. The factors that bring together the views of modernists who wrote about the absurd and the traditionalist doctrine are: fixation of the destruction of the habitual way of life, self-integrity, perversion or disappearance of the hierarchical social order, substitution of values, a direct indication of the "end of time" (eschatology). Changes in speech almost always act as an indicator of the heroes losing their own identity. With the help of this indicator, as a rule, loss of connection with Another, global alienation and dehumanization of a human being are recorded. Thus, the importance of the category of the absurd for fundamental philosophical ontology is proved.

Keywords: existentialism, The Dirty Dust, absurdist fiction, silence, meaning, traditionalism, eschatology, Irish literature, existential crises, absurdity

Abstract: The object of this research is the works of F. M. Dostoevsky in the context of Gregory Palamas’ teaching on human destiny. The subject is Dostoevsky’s examination of the key contents of human consciousness: the moment of making a value choice in existential situation of the encounter with his true Self, and the establishment of such choice by the life fabrics of human fate, which is brought to focus by Dostoevsky in word of the character. The topic of the article is the revelation of human word as a result of spiritual battle, when a person can return to his real self. Methodology on one hand leans on the doctrine of Gregory Palamas on human destiny that reveals the dialectics of spiritual battle, flexibility of human consciousness, ability of a person to create the surrounding world; and on the other – founds on the works of M. M. Bakhtin dedicated to Dostoevsky’s poetics and analysis of the writer’s art of declamation. The scientific novelty lies in analysis of Dostoevsky’s works as a reflection in the art of declamation of the interaction between consciousness and reality, content and consequences of the spiritual battle. The following conclusions were made: 1) word as a content of consciousness is the human instrument for creating the world. It is capable of building or destroying a man and his surrounding world; 2) Dostoevsky’s description of the dialectics of word takes place in the dialogue-clash with the inner, intimate work and outside spoken word, on the background of the divine screen – existential encounter of a character with his own self; 3) world is the product of consciousness that makes an existential value choice.

Keywords: consciousness, Dostoevsky, Palama, spiritual battle, human destiny, word, inner man, Bakhtin, Gregory Palamas’ anthropology, flexibility of human consciousness

Abstract: This article examines the multiplicity of Buddhist practice in their inner unity, as well as substantiates the approach that acknowledges the crucial theoretical-methodological importance of the Indo-Tibetan presentation of Buddhist philosophy and practice in their functional interrelation through the categories of "Base", "Path" and "Fruit". The key subject is the philosophical and soteriological contents of these categories, as well as multi-stage conceptualization of the Path and various schemes of multi-stage systematization in Indo-Tibetan Siddhanta texts alongside treatises about the paths and stages. The author applies the historical-philosophical methods, system and comparative approaches, combination of academic standards of scientific rationalism with the principles of Buddhist hermeneutics; suggests the approach towards multi-stage conceptualization of Buddha’s Teaching based on the Indo-Tibetan sources that represents a “gradual” path on enlightenment as a universal method of presentation of Buddhist doctrines and practices in their inner unity; provides academic analysis of the content of the Base (absolute and relative truth), Path (combination of meditative practices), and Fruit (final goal and results of the Path – status of Buddha). It is established that Buddhist philosophy is not limited by the content of the Base, but also captures the Path and the Fruit. A position is formulated about the inadequacy of contraposition of philosophy and practice in Buddhism; “gradual” and “instantaneous” ways of enlightenment. Conclusion is made that the idea of “gradualness” is not strictly the approach of the Gelugpa school, but rather exists in all of the Tibetan Buddhist schools and dates back to the Indian heritage: the idea of “gradual” path that is not reducible just to the temporal sense was substantiated not only in the Mahayana, but also in the early Buddhist texts.

Keywords: Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu, two truths, Fruit, Path, Base, Siddhanta, Buddhist philosophy, Tsongkhapa, gradualism

Abstract: The goal of this article consists in examination of the dynamics of confrontation between two fractions of the Russian thought in the 1830’s – 1840’s: major “platforms” and most noticeable (focal) discussions, during the course of which have been discovered the publicly known leaders and their main ideas. The object of this article is the social and ideological clash that took place during this timeframe, while the subject is the intrigue and structure of this clash, which had formed the two opposing groups with the diametrically different theoretical platforms that have become the permanent characters of the Russian intellectual stage. The applied methodology leans on R. Collins' theory of "intellectual evolutions": the field of intellectual attention, focal discussions, and bloom of creativity through the opposition and rivalry. As the author believes, the examined theoretical collision for the first time has divided the intellectuals of two capitals into the groups, which formed their own stable consciousness, acquired historical genealogy, put forward the symbols of their group unity, dealt with succession, and supported the line of confrontation even up until now. The scientific novelty of the study lies in reviewing the dynamics of fraction genesis in the context of specificity of the three different discursive platforms of that time: secular saloons, university courses, and "journal wars”.

Keywords: fraction genesis, creativity through oppositions, journal wars, focal discussions, field of intellectual attention, Westernism, Slavophilism, radical and moderate, discussion areas, Russian self-identification

Abstract: The subject of this research is the notion of meaning. The goal of the work consists in detection of the content and structure of meaning, its types, as well as main moving moments and accompanying circumstances of its creation and determination. In realization of the set tasks, the author reviews a number of definitions of the meaning, and provided his original understanding, Based on these definition and developed by the author binary concept, the article reveals the ontology of the notion of meaning: its key moments, structure, actors, properties, and characteristic features. The author attempted to realize the multi-aspect approach in description and cognition of meaning, as well as demonstrated the systemic, hierarchical character of the structure of meaning. The leading actors of meaning and crucial circumstances, under which the meaning can be created and presented, are being defined. The acquired results will be useful in solution of the ontological and gnoseological problems of the modern philosophy and science. For the first time in history of the Russian philosophy, the author applied the binary concept towards the cognition of the content and structure of the notion of meaning. The main conclusion lies in the following statement: before the attempt to resolve any theoretical and practical issues, it is necessary to determine the meaning of notions, which express these issues. For detection of the meaning of any notion, first and foremost, it is requires to sufficiently understand the essence and structure of meaning as such. The presented article serves as one of the blocks that can be helpful in structuring this notion.

Keywords: philosophy, thinking, freedom, ontology, concept, binary analysis, biner, meaning, classificaton, logos

Abstract: The object of this article is the phenomenon of fashion; the subject is fashion in Herbert Blumer’s sociological concept, as well as its modern interpretation. The work examines the social aspects of fashion, role of the various actors in its production and functioning, dependence of fashion on the specificity of historical time alongside its changeability and return. This article presents fashion as the consistent and rational phenomenon, as the factor of social prestige and success, as well as demonstrates its presence in all of the segments of society. The author examines the functions of fashion and their stipulation by the social practice. The methodological foundation consists in the principles of objectivity and systematicity, which allow demonstrating fashion as an integral and controversial phenomenon. The scientific novelty lies in substantiation of a thesis about fashion as the crucial social phenomenon. The problematic field of this work allows formulating the following conclusions: 1) fashion is the most important social trend and public demand; 2) the “engine” of fashion is the processes of the “collective choice” as a combination of actions of various actors.

Keywords: elite, class differentiation, actor, collective taste, collective choice, fashion, success, prestige, requirement, mainstream

Abstract: This article explores the ontological aspects of the philosophy of Gilles Deleuze. Main attention is paid to the problems of overcoming of Platonism, transgressive nature of meaning and events. Ontological development G. Deleuze considered in the context of Kant's doctrine of freedom, dialectic G.V.F. Hegel and Nietzsche doctrine of the eternal return. A new version of the reading of the philosophy of freedom Kant. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the specifics of interpretation of the idea of the eternal return, and the explication of the ontological aspect of the present teachings. The article used the methodological guidelines and the installation of post-structuralism. Also used a technique of comparative analysis of philosophical doctrines. The main conclusion of the research is the thesis of the transgressive nature of ontology G. Deleuze. The author substantiates the position that the ontological views of the french thinker are neither metaphysical nor dialectics. Ontology Deleuze prelstavlyaet an ontology transgression. The study shows that being conceived by Deleuze as the eternal return. Thus, the eternal return refers to the philosopher not as a repetition of the same, but as a statement of differences and transgression.

Keywords: Nietzsche, Hegel, Kant, Platonism, event, sense, Deleuze, transgression, the eternal return, difference

Abstract: The object of this research is the peculiarities of the “Society of the Spectacle”, while the subject is the theatricality of the consumer society. The author analyzes the nature and inclusiveness of the simulacrums and simulations, the phenomenon of commodification, and the correlation of the real and symbolic. The work examines the phenomena of commodification and excessive consumption as the orientations of post-modernistic and consumerist outlook, as well as the link between consumption and system of ethical orientations. The author reviews the contrariety of the value dimensions of the consumer society; the processes of substitution of the authentic with the fictitious, real with virtual; and the role of social illusions in formation of the ideologemes. The scientific novelty consists in substantiation of the position about the modern society as the “society of the spectacle”. The analyzing problematics allows making the following conclusions: 1) theatricality is the attribute of the consumer society; 2) special relevance for the scientific research consists in the questions of formation of the social illusions and their impact upon the mass consciousness.

Keywords: visibility, illusion, hyperreality, theatricality, commodification, consumerism, postmodernism, Society of the Spectacle, simulacrum, myth

Abstract: The subject of this research is the emerging in situation of traumatic uncertainty phenomenon of value duality of thinking. The object of the article is the caused by the ethnical dichotomy process of the reaction of thinking, examined from the axiological perspective. The author analyzes the state of the traumatic uncertainty, which leads to the atrophy of the conceptual algorithm of existence of a subject, as well as to the alienation from the absolute values that at the same time serves as a motive for the growth of self-consciousness and development of constructive foundations of thinking. Special attention is given to the question of unity of the absolute values and constructive activity of a subject in the context of the category of “ensoulment”. The main conclusion consists in the fact that a constructive moments in the thinking dominates over the moment of ethical dichotomy. Scientific consists in the fact that the state of ethnical dichotomy, which is expressed in consciousness as a leitmotiv of metaphysical ideas, is being counterpoised with metaphysics of gnoseological order – expressed in constructiveness of human I.   

Keywords: development of the essence, ensoulment, soul, idea, absurd, dichotomy, thinking, Platonic idea, Good, Nothing

Abstract: The article discusses the peculiarities of transformation of the image of Abaris the Hyperborean in connection with the more general question of the cult of newcomers from distant lands who brought into the Hellenic world wisdom that was before unknown. Analysis of historical sources about the life and work of Abaris demonstrates that while it is a quite rational and easy to understand figure in the work of the ancient writers (Pindar, Herodotus, Plato and others), during the Hellenism it had acquired absolutely fantastic features that can be attributed to the general state of public consciousness, characterized by interest in mysticism, irrationalism and exotic cults, and also to the departure in the historical memory of thought, traditions, and metaphysical invariants introduced to Greece in the pre-homeric culture by Indo-European tribes who invaded the Mediterranean-Balkan region. Therefore, the problem placed in front of the researcher is de-mythologization of Abaris' image, which would clear him from the later accretions and reveal his true sides. De-mythologization of image of Abaris not only provides the key to the explanation of the "dark places" of our knowledge of his personality and activity, but also leads us to a broader problem - reception by the ancient Greeks of the Indo-European mental matrix as the most important condition for formation of the modern Western civilization.

Keywords: shamanism, oracle, Abaris, Hyperborea, Ancient Greece, mythology, history of philosophy, Apollo, Indo-Europeans, kitharistes

Abstract: This article is dedicated to the problem of human nature. Within the Russian philosophical anthropology of the recent years, a human was viewed as a historical creation. Human nature, which was revealed by the Marxist philosophy, turned out to be burying in oblivion. The article poses a question about the fact that a human first and foremost belongs to the natural world. He is definitely an animal. However, this statement does not contain all the truth. Being a representative of the animal world, human revealed his abilities and resources in history. Due to this fact, the problem of environment is raised. The author notes the destructive effect of the human activity upon the nature. The article is focusing on a problem that did not get coverage in the Russian literature, thus brings up multiple references to the works of the foreign scholars. The author’s original idea resolves in how to distinct human from an animal, how to revive the naturalistic concept of the philosophical anthropology, how to interpret the modern ecological revolution, as well as how to ensure the ecologization of consciousness. The article demonstrates that e human represents a specific type of animal in the worlds, as consciousness that has culture. The author conducts the critical analysis of social biology, which gained popularity in the last decades.

Keywords: ecology, human, animal, activities, nature, ethics, anthropocentrism, society, biosphere, greening of consciousness