From:  "Nikolai S. Rozov" <rozov@adm.nsu.nsk.su>
 Tue, 7 Feb 1995 04:59:38 -0500
To: chriscd@JHUVM.HCF.JHU.EDU
Subject: Summary rozov92
 
 
 
THE FILE IS FREE FOR REPOST
 
English Summary of the book in Russian:
 
Nikolai S. Rozov. Struktura Tsivilizatsii i Tendentsii Mirovogo Razvitiya
(The Structure  of Civilization and World Development Trends),
Novosibirsk, Novosibirsk St.Univ., 1992, 215p. English Summary.
 
     The book is in the library of Boston University.
 
     This book  deals  with  the elaboration of the conceptual
system of culture and civilization and with the study  of  the
trends and  megatrends  of contemporary world development with
the help of this conceptual system (apparatus).
     The idea  of  the  conceptual  apparatus  is  the complex
utilization of   the   most   productive   cultural,   social,
psychological, historical  approaches  and  theories (M.Weber,
P.Sorokin, B.Malinowski,      A.Toinby,      A.Radcliff-Brown,
A.Kroeber, T.Parsons,   K.Boulding,   S.Nikanorov,  A.Giddens,
I.Wallerstein), placed in a  strict  and  common  logical  and
conceptual structure.  The  philosophy and methodology of this
work are described in Chapter I.
     The conceptual  apparatus  consists  of several uni-aspect
conceptions: "Social    functions," "Social    structures,"
"Consciousness and     behavior,"     "Cultural     patterns,"
"Diachronical processes," "Mechanisms  of  development."  Each
conception has a strict logical structure:  it consists of the
basic concepts,  basic  relations,  derivative  concepts   and
axioms. There  are  mechanisms  for  the  logical synthesis of
different conceptions by means of concepts' identification  and
elaboration of synthetic concepts (Chapter II).
     The construction of such complicated synthetical concepts
as "society,"   "normally  functioning  society,"  "developing
society," culture"  and  "civilization"  is  described.   This
conceptual system  preserves  the  rich  content  of classical
theories and in the meantime it is open  for  logical  control
and for elaboration of the computer system models.
     The conceptual apparatus  is  applied  to  a  new  system
explanation of  the well-known phases of the civilization life
circle (genesis of  civilization,  growth,  blossoming  forth,
break-down, decay).    The    variety   of   the   development
alternatives is demonstrated (Chapter III).
     In the  contemporary  world  situation  four  spheres  of
processes are considered:
     - techno-natural processes providing material products;
     - social   processes   providing    social    structures,
institutions, etc.;
     - anthropic  processes  providing  human  qualities   (by
family, education systems, mass media, etc.);
     - cultural processes providing cultural patterns for  all
four spheres of processes.
     In each sphere 3-5 development trends are revealed.  Many
trends from   different  spheres  are  interconnected  by  the
mechanism of positive feed-back.  The most interesting are the
long-term complexes of such trends that support and strengthen
each other.  Such complexes are named here m e g a t r e n d s.
Megatrends are epoch-making historical vehicles.
     Because of the "limit of growth" and  the  end  of  "cold
war" our  historical epoch is coming to its end.  The image of
the new epoch is determined by the results of conflict between
three main contemporary Megatrends:
     Megatrend I "The inertia of techno-economical growth  and
assimilation" includes  world  economical integration with the
privileged positions  of  Western  countries  and   companies,
global Westernization, export of ecological loading, spread of
economical liberalism,  utilitarism and rationalism (which  is
based on   the   ideas   of   progress,   growth,  profit  and
consummation), and the decay of non-Western cultures;
     Megatrend II  "The restraint of growth and pan-isolation"
includes the  growth  of   cultural,   political,   economical
barriers between states,  blocks of states,  the strengthening
and spread   of   nationalism,    religious    fundamentalism,
restrictive ideologies;
     Megatrend III    "The    change    of    direction     of
techno-economical development   and   multipolar  partnership"
includes worldwide economical and political  integration  with
many poles   of   influence,   elaboration   of   the   stable
socio-techno-natural symbioses,  development of  crosscultural
dialogue and preservation of cultural diversity, spread of the
ideas of   communication,   compromises,   care   of    future
generations and  global problems,  rationalism (which is based
on the ideas  of  human  rights),  development  of  the  value
consciousness as  a  field  for communication of all cultures,
ideologies, moral and religious traditions.
     The perspectives  and tasks for international cooperation
are elaborated  in  the  context  of  these  three  Megatrends
(Chapter IY).
 
        P.S. I will be very grateful for any ideas concerning
        publishing this book in English or other languages.
 
 
        P.P.S. Welcome to out mailing list PHILOFHI
        (PHILosophy OF HIstory and theoretical history):
You can GET the file PHILOF HISTORY PHILOSOP,  i.e. send to
e-mail address
in Bitnet:                    LISTSERV@EARN.YORKVM1
or in Internet:               LISTSERV@VM1.YorkU.CA
 
the command:
GET PHILOF HISTORY PHILOSOP
 
 
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Moderator of the list PHILOFHI (PHILosophy OF HIstory)
      Nikolai S. Rozov,
      Ph.D., Dr.Sc.(Social Philosophy)
      Dept.Philosophy, Novosibirsk State University
ADDRESS:             630090,  Novosibirsk,  Pirogova 2, Russia
FAX:                 7/3832/35 52 37
E-MAIL:              rozov@adm.nsu.nsk.su
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