Abstract: The main philosophical concept such as space, time, motion, essence, existence, substance, subject and object, in fact, derive from the concept of 'being', represent different aspects thereof and form some kind of a metaphysical frame (cluster or pool) that is used to describe all famous universal phenomena in this way or another. This 'hard core' (according to Imre Lakatos) of all natural science and philosophical research programs conducted by the majority of philosophers, cultural researchers, theologists and scientists has been called 'metaphysics' since Andronicus of Rhodes published Aristotle's works.  The author of the article offers a new interpretation of being as information reality that unites the three important elements of the universe - conciousness, life and materia.  The research is based on historical and philosophical traditions of interpreting the category of 'being' and definition of being in modern natural science.  In modern natural science and socio-cultural research the category 'being' means information being or existence of information represented as the unity of the three spheres of reality - conciousness (reason), life and materia. 

Keywords: program, creative ideas, natural science, history of philosophy, information, materia, life, conciousness, being, culture

Abstract: It has been stated that the beginning of the global direction in science should be referred to the first half of last century.The authors of the article view related processes of globalization of knowledge and formation of global knowledge. The authors believe it is necessary to define the place of global direction in modern science, form the general concept and assess opportunities for further development of global studies. It is assumed that global studies, whether the subject of global studies is narrow or broad, is just part of a broader science - global research and general process of globalization of science. Changes in the subject of global studies and global researches making this subject even broader require not only historical, but also evolutionary approach to current and future global processes. The authors also describe the evolutionary approach (that is different from historical approach) to global researches and especially to global studies of different global processes and systems including global natural processes, globalization and global issues. Evolutionary globalization is focused on studying the development and co-evolution of global processes and their synergetic phenomenon - global development. Formation of global knowledge and global transformations in science are also viewed from the point of view of the transfer to sustainable development and formation of the sphere of reason - noosphere. 

Keywords: globalization, globalization of science, global studies, global knowledge, global processes, global evolutionary studies, historical global studies, noosphere science, sustainable development, evolutionary global studies

Abstract: The author of the article attempts a conceptual analysis of the global socio-economic situation during the XX century and outlines tendencies in the global economic development. The author offers an interpretation of historical dynamics of the 'human-society-biosphere' system. It is shown that the pressure on biosphere has been growing throghout the process of anthropogenesis starting from Neolithic Revolution, in particular, during technological revolution in mid XX's. On one hand, there is a growing deman in natural resources as the world population and their needs increase. On the other hand, growing demands of the society exacerbate the tendency towards unstability of global ecosystems. In fact, the theoretical analysis of the socio-economic situation did not lead to any pratical results in modern science. Threfore, the author of the author of the article is offering his own answer to the question whether the modern civilization would survive in the XXI century. We plan it as the introductory article for the special rubric 'Environmental Strategy XXI' (the name of the rubric may be changed).

Keywords: environmental crisis, Neolithic Revolution, pressure on biosphere, environmental contradictions, anthropogenesis, historical environmental studies, Rome Club, sustainable development, environmental future, civilization prospects

Abstract: The article discusses the opposition between the teaching community and reformers of the Russian system of education. From the point of view of the former, we are now having the destruction of schol and degradation of the system of education. According to the latter, the system of education is not degradating but being reformed. In this regard, the author of the article analyzes the current situation and shows that the institution of education, in fact, consists of the three different institutions: traditional education aimed at formation of a well-educated person and specialist, a new institution of education (the author calls it 'limited liability education') aimed at providing educational services, diplomas and other social symbols rather than training specialists (including so called educative simulacrums), and a new 'additional' institution providing the second and the third educational degree. The latter includes 'business education' and a whole range of new forms of education. The author also explains the difference between 'personal actions' and 'social actions' and offers a definition of the 'leading type of sociality' and 'general conditions'. The final part of the article is devoted to the opposition itself and possible behaviour of individuals based on the aforesaid differences and definition of the term 'society' as well as discussions with V. Belyaev. 

Keywords: education (system of education), reforms, opposition, self-determination, imitation, sociality, personality

Abstract: The article is devoted to the process of socio-cultural development. In particular, the author focuses on the drivers of this process and cultural interaction as one of the main driverrs. The article presents the analysis of cultural changes driven by the dialogue with the other culture and shows contradictory nature of such changes. Cultural ideas, experience and knowledge conveyed in the process of the dialogue of cultures are subject to new interpretation and 'readings' in a new cultural environment. As a result, they may get a different meaning so what was perceived by the recipient culture is exposed to innovation-driven development. The process of inerpretation of perceived traditions may either change these traditions completely or make them very different from the original ones.  The dialogue of cultures include transmission of cultural elements from one culture into another, their 'absorbtion' in another culture, creaton of creative work in the manner of another culture, synthesis of the 'ours' and 'theirs', the 'original' and 'adopted' and formation of something completely new.  As the dialogue of cultures develop, elements of the other culture lose their exotic nature. As soon as 'theirs' is undestood, it is absorbed by the 'ours' and expand the borders of our culture. 

Keywords: influence of culture, dialogue of culture, change of system, interpretation, culture making, intercultural exchange, multi-culturalism, paradigm of culture, development, tradition

Abstract: This article continues to introduce to the readers the theory of interculture developed by the author. The present article is devoted to the cognitive aspect of interculture. Based on the author, this aspect, just like all the others aspects of interculture, has a constitutional imprint of the basic principles of intercultural communication. Among the great variety of cognitive traditions existing within the borders of interculture, specific principles implement what is called scientific content and science, or, more specifically, experimental mathematical natural science. 'Scientific content' is the cognitive form of 'just and legal detraction of human spirit.  The author of the article shows how a group of life challenges which gave birth to interculture, is now creating a specific new European cognitive tradition. Scientific content is viewed as the solution of the problem of the search for universal truth tht would be objective and accepted by all laws. The author shows the internal contradiction of science and that science can be transformed into cultural remission for scientists.  The article will be of interest for everyone who is into philosophical anthropology. 

Keywords: interculture, scientific content, science, new European reality, experimental natural science, faith-centered strategy, ratio-centered strategy, mathematical natural science, over-value strategy, pre-value strategy

Abstract: The article conctains the analysis of philosophical and ethical aspects of the writings 'Bhagavad Gita' and 'the Book of Job'. The author of the article concludes that both writings represent similar ethical and philosophical views on the source and cause of suffering. This raises fundamental questions about the purpose of world creation and attempts to overcome the gap between ethics and ontology in developing ethical phenomenology of forgiveness. Human seeks to be forgiven. He needs it to change (transform) his deliberate accident into accidental deliberateness. This is realized through human opportunity to oppose his individual suffering to the world. Thus, the measure of human uniqueness (personality) is directly proportional to the measure of uncertainty human is ready to be responsible for. Job and Arjuna were brave enough to bear such responsibility and to ask God about the reasons of the gap between what there is and what there should be, and this is the reason why God answers them. 

Keywords: transformation, Creation, Without preprequisites, Things existent, Ontology, Ontical, Forgiveness, Existential, Metaphysics, Dharma

Abstract: The present article is devoted to a wide range of questions related to the functions of culture and relation between them. The author shows that a famous opinion of cultural researchers that all functions of culture are social is not quite correct. All functions of the culture are divided into the two following groups: ordinary (everyday) functions including social ones and fundamental functions essential for human survival. Fundamental functions of culture show themselves through ethnical proceses (because ethnos is the bearer of culture). Their diversity depend on ethnical processes, too, depending on the hierarchy of ethics. The author also views the essence of life and essence of human as well as primary results (self-goals). Social functions of culture reflect secondary results. However, if we develop the secondary functions and forget about the fundamental functions of culture, we become like drug addictors. The author of the article also describes the increasing role of culture, elements of the communication process and the defining role of the information component of the triune systems. It is shown that informatization of the society is a cultural issue. The author also touches upon the fundamental principle of any science and distortion of informaton on its way from the source of information to the information user. 

Keywords: functions of culture, system analysis, social functions, fundametal functions, ethnical processes, essence of life, essence of human, survival, growth of the role of culture, fundamental principle