Gurevich, P. S. A Poet Talking about Culture

Abstract: In Russian literature culture has become the object of historical and sociological researches lately. All kinds of events and world cultural artifacts have been described. Many social discoveries of the phenomenon of culture have been made but still the philosophical aspect of the problem is not well studied. Modern philosophy raises many metaphysical cultural issues. Moreover, cultural philosophy (or philosophy of culture) aimed at philosophical understanding of culture as a universal and extensive phenomenon, has been formed as an independent branch of science. The author of the article appeals to creative work written by a famous poet T. Eliot and analyzes his thoughts related to cultural philosophy. Eliot believed that American culture did not have any deep roots. This is why it was filled with the spirit of pragmatism. It was not an accident that the poet called America ‘a vulgar country’. Associating American culture with ‘barbarianism’, the poet described the phenomenon of American culture as a denial from spirituality and tradition. The poet treated traditions with much respect and believed they contained social experience and roots. Thus, we can say that Eliot represented practical skills and consciousness of the ‘thinking’ intelligentsia. Most of all Eliot respected the spirit of culture.

Keywords: