Continuality and discontinuality of the historical process in posttoynbee’s philosophy of history.

Abstract

The thesis reveals the main aspects of the synthesis of continuity and discontinuity in the study of the historical process within posttoynbee’s paradigm of history. World history − it is a single continual process with ups and downs in the life activity of local civilizations that constitute elements of the discrete of history is proved. Shown that in the evolution of the philosophical views of the historical process expedient to single out three periods: classical, nonclassical and postnonclassical. The need for the the synthesis of the achievements of the classical and nonclassical approaches into postnonclassical understanding of the historical process are discussed. The author’s definition of "posttoynbee’s philosophy" is proposed. The basic principles of the "posttoynbee’s" philosophy of history are considered. The author’s classification of philosophical models of the historical process and their evolution in the posttoynbee’s philosophy of history are considered. Chronologically, the first form of understanding the historical process is a model of a unitary and continuum history. The second form of understanding the nature of history and its subjects is the plural-discrete model. It is based on rethinking of achievements of the classical period of rationality. The relationship of the two models can be described as follows: noclassics takes a position opposite classics. The last third model – integral − is characterized by attempts to synthesize continuous and discrete. On the examples of history the author explores the main components of the core of local civilization. The major aspects of the problem of discontinuality of the genesis of civilization by examining the main reasons for such final are considered. The philosophical analysis of the known classifications of possible causes of death of civilizations within the history of modern philosophy is given. The attempt to classify all studied factors of discreteness to external and internal causes of the downfall of civilizations is made. External causes include natural factor, barbaric attacks and conflicts between civilizations. Internal group of causes of the discreteness of civilizations constitute economic factors, internal civilizational conflicts, social cleavages. This classification is rather conventional, because there are reasons for that are difficult to unambiguously attribute to external or internal components. The author concludes that the internal reasons make the moment of discreteness only possible, but already social nucleus – the community of civilization embodies the potential scenario. The fact that each civilization relates differently to the solution of the same problems evidence in favor of this. An important role of cultural and racial homogeneity of social core and peripherals is given in solving the problem of discreteness. The interaction of cultures and civilizations is the main factor which provides continuity of world historical process it is shown. The author concludes that the process of cultural interaction is not new, deeply rooted in primitive times of mankind, but nowadays it takes more intensive and comprehensive (global) character. In the dissertation it is emphasized that globalization has created the necessary conditions for unity of mankind, at the same time causing the reverse process of its localization