Rozin V.M. Socio-Cultural Analysis of the Campaigns of Alexander the Great and Thinking About the Essence of War

Abstract: The paper consists of the two parts, general discussion of the nature of war and a case study, specifically, socio-cultural views on the campaigns of Alexander the Great. Based on the work of Kant who believed that it was possible to establish the eternal peace, the author analyzes the current understanding of the war and the difference in motivating the last two plans: pragmatic and transcendental. The former is given by all sorts of practical reasons (to seize someone else's territory, to take revenge on other people for their past wrongdoings, to extend the power and strengthen the economy in the conquered territories, to boost the coffers and slaves, etc.), and the latter is defined by ideas created by a community or state but not individuals. Capmaigns of Alexander the Great are considered from the point of view of the analysis of personality of the great general, his plans of campaigns including messages designed to motivate and inspire the army and the Greek city-states, the implementation of these plans, the basic conditions of implementation, the findings to better understand the nature of war. The study of these topics have been implemented principles of comparative analysis, cultural-historical reconstruction of the campaigns of Alexander the Great and methodological analysis including problematization. As a result, the author could view the problems arising in the process of thinking about war. The author also gives his answer to the question whether it is possible to live without war. The Western world could theoretically live without wars because pacifist and humanist movements contribute to the transformation of traditional wars into the war with a minimum of casualties among the enemy population. But the opposite trend caused by the expansion of barbarism on the contrary constantly renews the traditional war.

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