Abstract: The subject of this research is the phenomenological method of Jean-Paul Sartre, presented in his early philosophical essays. The author leans on his works “The Transcendence of Ego”, “Sketch for a Theory of the Emotions”, “The Imaginary: A Phenomenological Psychology of the Imagination”. The main goal of this article consists in revelation of peculiarities of Sartre’s understanding of phenomenological method in the context of genesis of his own philosophical methodologies. The author introduces an analysis of Sartre’s theories of emotions and imagination, as well as definition of magic consciousness within the problem of genesis of Sartre’s philosophical anthropology and philosophy of consciousness. During the course of this research have been determined the methodological invariants of Sartre’s phenomenology, topics of interest, and rudiments of concepts inherent to his full-fledged philosophy. The results are reflected in the following theses: 1) Sartre’s reasoning carries mostly visual character; 2) in the foundation of his psychology lies the differentiation of rational and magical modes of consciousness; the magical implies the human ability to instantaneously transform the world through emotions and imagination; 3) Sartre’s perception of magical modes of consciousness forms the conceptual core of existential anthropology, which had definitively established during the mature period of his philosophical works.

Keywords: imagination, affect, intentionality, gestalt psychology, phenomenology, Husserl, Sartre, magic, consciousness, approach

Abstract: The subject of this research is the objective-energy structure of consciousness. The goal of this work is the formulation of the mechanism of determination of the onto-gnoseological grounds of objective consciousness as the means of constructive overcoming of the distorted forms of “Self” in human existence. The establishment of the integral structure of consciousness will provide an opportunity of conducting a gnoseological and ontological analysis of the objective determinism of culture and consciousness. It is defined that the formation of the holistic core of identity of the human Self must be built on the basis of reflection that considers context, includes a maximally ideal and distracted from the usual perception thinking. The identity suggest overcoming the “attraction of subject” and simultaneous establishment of the Self upon it as the permanent presence and highest order (identity of the fourth order). The result of this research consists in revelation of the forms of the distorted objective core of identity of the human Self as the condition for formation of the illusionary consciousness. The author formulates the model of the concept of the objectively determined existence, which is applied in philosophical, culturological, socio-philosophical, and other humanitarian studies for the analysis of cultural processes, as well as processes emerging in transformation of the objective identity of the human Self.

Keywords: Intentionality, Reflection, Illusion, Existence, Consciousness, Culture, Hermeneutic circle, Identity, Self, Thingness

Abstract: The paper introduces the explanatory gap problem  in the philosophy of mind. A review of the mainapproaches to the problem shows that the traditional materialism/physicalism encounters the principaldifficulties. The article introduces the explanatory gap problem gap in the philosophy of mind. The author provides a brief review of the main approaches to the problem. The author focuses on attempts to overcome physical approaches, on the one hand, and critics of dualism, on the other hand. For example, Blok offered the definition of implicit physical phenomenal concepts. Papineau admitted that phenomenal concepts had a singular nature. Levin spoke of the concept of acquaintance. Varela offered to extend the scope of the traditional science and developed so called neuro-phenomenology. The research is based on the method of comparison of the main approaches to solving the explanatory gap problem. Preference is given to phenomenal realism. The author demonstrates that the traditional materialism/physicalism encounters the principal difficulties when solving the explanatory gap problem. At the same time, property dualism is an essential concept only a non-metaphysical version of naturalistic phenomenal realism, or nontraditional contextual naturalism/physicalism of Wittgenstein type may compete with. 

Keywords: explanatory gap problem, hard problem, psycho-physical identities, physico-physical identities, phenomenal concepts, conceptual dualism, phenomenal realism, physicalism, property dualism, neuro-phenomenology

Abstract: In his article Stepin analyzes the turn in German critical theory from Walter Benjamin to Dietmar Kamper in the second half of the 20th entury. The total mobilization of the world performed by the means of technical devices leads to the decay of aura in an artwork which means the loss of its history, unique nature and presence. New art initially inclined towards violence and propaganda aestheticizes politics. This process reaches the apogee in Nazi Germany. However, at that very moment culture experiences a fundamental change - the 'iconic' turn caused by the rapidly growing power of visual media. Aestheticization of politics is being replaced with aestheticization of activity and the death of aura is replaced with the 'commited crime'.  The comparative research performed by Stepin is based on the two methodological concepts: hermeneutics with the elements of phenomenology and culture-historical analysis.  Both Walter Benjamin and Dietmar Kamper come to the idea of revolution. They view revolution as a tool to 'stop' the history - the 'shutdown' of history. However, the proletariat Walter Benjamin laid his hopes on cannot get a hold of that trigge because the wall where the trigger is is not the sociality but the Reality. Only a performance artist is able to destroy the dictatorship of visibility and therefore Dietmar Kamper developes the idea of a new 'body revolution'.     

Keywords: Walter Benjamin, Dietmar Kamper, aura, media, revolution, body, shutdown of history, aestheticization of reality, marginality, iconic turn

Abstract: The author of the preset article views Nietzsche’s interpretation of religion, first of all, Christianity, from the point of view of its relation to the central topic of his philosophy, the phenomenon of nihilism. The history of the religious development in Nietzsche’s teachings is rather understudied. The author provides an insight into this aspect of Nietzsche’s teaching from the point of view of the fundamental conflict of ‘life approval’ and ‘life denial’ – ‘Rome and Judea’. In the course of the research the author has described and analyzed Nietzsche’s views on such problems as the genesis and purpose of religion, the essential difference between paganism and Christianity, social and cultural causes and the base for Christianity, relation to Judaism, metaphysical and psychological-anthropological grounds of Christianity, death of God and the situation of nihilism in the Early Modern Period. Nietzsche’s philosophy is shown from the point of view of its systematic interpretation. The main thesis made by the author is that Nietzsche views Christianity genealogically, i.e. not as it is but as a major exponent and accumulator of the ‘metaphysical defect’ of the denial which was distanced from the values of the real life and began to serve the opposite targets.

Keywords: nihilism, religion, Christianity, criticism of Christianity, Jesus, Judaism, death of God, Nietzsche, paganism, reappraisal of values.

Abstract: The article is devoted to the philosophical concept of consciousness, in particular, phenomenology of consciousness. At the conceptual level the author of the article offers her own model of the bases of perception, conscious personal experience and experience of preceding generations for the purpose of formation of phenomenological ontology on the path towards creation of the concept of consciousness. The theory of consciousness would be impossible without considering particular phenomena that have had a great influence on the development of concepts, social opinions and plans of actions in stereotype situations. The phenomenological concept of mentality of consciousness allows to analyze the relation between reflective experience and verbal expressions of consciousness and their unity. The author also raises a question about the thought process and mental content that guides individual behavior. Mental or material phenomena may change individual consciousness and create MEM-concepts which, in their turn, can capture minds of general public. The author also offers the idea about the phenomenological method using MEMconcepts as the source of new theories and instrumental procedures for creating the artificial intellect. Description of the process of the formation of consciousness as particular concepts and sequence of actions in life situations would be impossible without considering particular phenomena that have made an impact thereon. Phenomenological concepts of consciousness are not limited to only mechanic description of brain functions but allow to understand consciousness through transcendental and reflective experience and their constitution taking into account both the emotional, temporal and selective structure of consciousness and physical existence of human.

Keywords: phenomenology, memes, noesis, intentionality, MEM-plex, selfplex, qualia, noem, reflective experience, mentality, borders of the theory of knowledge.

Abstract: The first part of the article describes the grounds for viewing theology as a science. The author shows the axiological (instead of cognitive) quality of theology. Based on the analysis of interaction between feelings and cogitation, the author shows how diverse theology as a discipline, although it is admitted that the axiological elements prevail. Religious studies are analyzed in the same way and the author shows their cognitive and scientific (but not axiological) meaning, diversity and the prevailing tendency as a discipline. The second part of the article shows the possibility to disguise theology as science as well as opportunities of phenomenology and its advantages over post-positivism in such disguise. The author also describes the non-theology phenomenology in Edmund Husserl’s religious studies based on the analysis of the difference between axiological and cognitive meanings.

Keywords: philosophy, phenomenology, demarcation, theology, disguise, pseudoscience, religious studies, value, knowledge, science.

Abstract: This article is an attempt to take a new look at human. It is proved that it is his spirit and senses but not his mental ‘self’ (consciousness) which is a true nature of human. Analysis is based on experience of phenomenological reduction, when the subject of research is the sphere of senses and feelings even though these are traditionally viewed as part of consciousness and deprived of its own peculiarities. The author shows that there is a very deep structure in human inner world which can be defined as a spiritual unit (or ‘soul’ in the exact meaning of this word). Basic laws of such a unit are opposite to the laws of material and sensual existence and mental phenomena and act as additional. This structure determines features of all human sensuality and cogitation and it is the source and substance of all higher forms of emotional life and an important beginning in human evolution and personal architectonics.

Keywords: philosophy, consciousness, sensuality, phenomenology, spirit, ideal, real, spiritual, structure, human.

Abstract: The article is devoted to the problem of philosophical definition of media as a condition for existence of a modern human. Sources of modern ontological views on media are described based on Merleau-Ponty’s phenomenology. Media is defined as an ontological way of involving human into the world. The author of the article also explains the status of media as an item and as a medial modality of the world perception.

Keywords: philosophy, ontologization, media, mediality, existence-in-the-world, phenomenal body, perception field, corporality, way of perception, environment.

Abstract: Based on religious studies, the author of the article criticizes modern post-positivistic demarcation of science and non-science and shows its potentials and advantages on the basis of the qualitative difference between values and knowledge. Peculiarities of values and knowledge as the two irreducible and interacting phenomena are described on the basis of ‘out of cognition’ and ‘cognitive’ acts of consciousness – feelings and reasoning. The author suggests new criteria for demarcation which depend on predominance of values or knowledge, as well as researches of irregularity, failure and perspectives of religious studies as a science (and theology as a study which is not related to mere knowledge).

Keywords: philosophy, demarcation, theology, religious studies, values, knowledge, science, non-science, consciousness, phenomenology.

Abstract: The author analyzes the role and possibilities of auto-communication in activity of a learning subject of modern epistemology included in the discourse. As an example, the author views the opportunities of inversive process of meaning formation. It is proved that the discourse is initially perceived as intra personal communication. The article is mostly devoted to the idea of extra linguistic processes in learning activity of an individual

Keywords: philosophy, auto communication, inner speech, discourse, modern epistemology, formation of meaning, communicative activity

Abstract: Review: having shown in this brief review the decline of the religious phenomenology, the author suggested his own conception of what could revive the religious phenomenology as a science and discipline, — Edmund Husserl’s phenomenology.
Key words: philosophy, phenomenology, epochй, reduction, empathy, eidos, religious studies, science, modernization, fact.

Abstract: The article reviews the religious phenomenology and shows its decline and failed attempts to revive. By the example from the studies of the Bible, the author showed how religious phenomenology could take the form of Edmund Husserl’s type of phenomenology. According to the author, this is what will eventually revive the religious phenomenology.

Keywords: philosophy, phenomenology, epochi, reduction, empathy, eidos, religious studies, studies of the Bible, hermeneutics, school.

Abstract: Anti-Semitism is obviously a certain world perception; — this is what the humanities experts say. On the other hand, it is quite a unique phenomenon both as the world perception and as the field of study of the human science. Anti-Semitism was eventually the sphere in which “whole” (meaning not fractioned by knowledge) religious views could exit together and in such way, it contributed to developing Renaissance and early European science by studying the Jewish religion with the purpose of its repression.

Keywords: philosophy, anti-Semitism, study of the Bible, science, methodology, meanings, Christianity, world outlook (world perception), religion, research.

Abstract: the article is devoted to Edmund Husserl’s phenomenological conception about the life-world which significantly differs from the “world” as it is seen by the science, the latter mostly abstracting and disembodying the world. The authors based their conclusions not only on Husserl’s works, but also on corresponding views on this matter in modern philosophy. The authors also made an attempt to interpret the phenomenon of culture according to the life-world conception.

Keywords: philosophy, life-world, natural science, phenomenology, reduction, epoche, pre-predicativity, obviousness, initial experience, pre-reflexivity, entity, Edmund Husserl, culture.