Preview

Russian Journal of Philosophical Sciences

Advanced search
Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

The Emergence of a New Civilization from the Perspective of Evolutionary Theory

Abstract

The article examines the current challenges involved in the emergence of a new civilization amid a global crisis that is ecological, anthropological, and social in nature. The authors argue that a new civilization cannot be borrowed from elsewhere or artificially constructed outside the continuity of historical development. Rather, it must emerge from within the framework of the preceding civilization, preserving and reinterpreting cultural heritage, the fundamental meanings of human existence, and the system of basic values. The article identifies the factors that sustain the stability of complex dynamic systems, particularly the biosphere, whose preservation is a necessary condition for maintaining an environment suitable for human habitation. The authors substantiate the need to move beyond an anthropocentric and consumer-oriented model of development toward an ecologically secure path. Such a transition requires aligning socio-economic processes with the laws of biospheric evolution, transforming patterns of production and consumption, reducing anthropogenic pressure, and introducing nature-inspired technologies. Special attention is paid to the co-evolutionary approach as a methodological foundation for the transition to a noospheric civilization. A noospheric civilization is understood as a form of development in which reason is directed toward harmonizing the conditions of coexistence among human beings, society, nature, and the technosphere on the basis of a philosophy of universal human responsibility. Co-evolution is interpreted not only as the interaction between society and nature, but also as a broader principle for coordinating the relations among human beings, the biosphere, social life, interstate and intercivilizational relations, and the human-made technosphere. In this context, the co-evolutionary approach also addresses issues of social justice, the protection of human dignity, access to the basic conditions of human development, and responsible engagement with digital platforms, artificial intelligence, and autonomous agent systems. The article concludes that, at the present stage, evolutionary theory is being further developed through the strategy of coevolution, which establishes the ecological, social, and technological principles governing human activity that are necessary to overcome the global crisis and facilitate the transition to a new civilization.

About the Authors

Pavel A. Vodopyanov
Belarusian State Technological University
Russian Federation

Pavel A. Vodopyanov – Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, D.Sc. in Philosophy, Professor, Professor of the Department of Philosophy and Law of the Belarusian State Technological University.

Minsk



Alexander N. Danilov
Belarusian State University
Russian Federation

Alexander N. Danilov – Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, D.Sc. in Sociology, Professor, Head of the Department of Sociology, Belarusian State University.

Minsk



References

1. Danilov A.N. (Ed.) (2024) The Epoch of Academician V.S. Stepin (A.N. Danilov, A.A. Lazarevich, & L.F. Kuznetsova, Comps.). Minsk: Belaruskaya navuka (in Russian).

2. Danilov A.N. (2025a) Social Contract: Evolution of Ideas and Lessons of History. RUDN Journal of Sociology. Vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 226–234 (in Russian).

3. Danilov A.N. (2025b) Passions of Virtual Communication: Toward a New Architecture of the Sociosphere. Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Philosophy and Conflict Studies. Vol. 41, no. 1, pp. 104–112 (in Russian).

4. Danilov-Danilyan V.I. (2025) Preservation of Humankind – Sustainable Development? Russian Journal of Philosophical Sciences = Filosofskie nauki. Vol. 68, no. 1, pp. 32–54 (in Russian).

5. Laszlo E. (2011) The Chaos Point. Saint Petersburg: Ves’ (Russian translation).

6. Lektorsky V.A. (2025)Humanism versus Transhumanism: Prognosis and Project. Russian Journal of Philosophical Sciences = Filosofskie nauki. Vol. 68, no. 1, pp. 15–31 (in Russian).

7. Liseev I.K. (2020) New Methodological and Ontological Accents in the Development of Contemporary Life Sciences. Voprosy filosofii. No. 9, pp. 99–105 (in Russian).

8. Marinosyan Kh.E. (2025) Preserving Humanity in an Era of Global Threats: Humanism as a Counterforce to the Elimination of the Human Russian Journal of Philosophical Sciences = Filosofskie nauki. Vol. 68, no. 1, pp. 7–14 (in Russian).

9. Mironov V.V. (2020) Metaphysics Does Not Die: Selected Articles, Speeches, and Interviews. Moscow: RG-Press (in Russian).

10. Moiseev N.N. (1999) To Be or Not to Be... for Humankind? Moscow: Ulyanovsk Printing House (in Russian).

11. Peccei A. (1980) The Human Quality. Moscow: Progress (Russian translation).

12. Schmalhausen I.I. (1968) Factors of Evolution: The Theory of Stabilizing Selection (2nd ed.). Moscow: Nauka (in Russian).

13. Schweitzer A. (1992) Reverence for Life. Moscow: Progress (Russian translation).

14. Sidorenko I.N. (2024) Problems and Prospects for the Survival of Humankind (Review of the book: P.A. Vodopyanov. At the Turn of Epochs: Choosing a Strategy for Creating the Future. Minsk: Belaruskaya navuka, 2023). Russian Journal of Philosophical Sciences = Filosofskie nauki. Vol. 67, no. 1, pp. 150–159 (in Russian).

15. Stepin V.S. (2021) Theoretical Knowledge: Structure, Historical Evolution. Minsk: Belaruskaya navuka (in Russian).

16. Ursul A.D. & Ursul T.A. (2016) Sustainable Development Goals and Prospects for Global Governance. Ekonomika i upravlenie: problemy, resheniya. No. 6 (in Russian).

17. Vernadsky V.I. (1988) Philosophical Thoughts of a Naturalist. Moscow: Nauka (in Russian).

18. Vodopyanov P.A. (2023) At the Turn of Epochs: Choosing a Strategy for Creating the Future. Minsk: Belaruskaya navuka (in Russian).


Review

For citations:


Vodopyanov P.A., Danilov A.N. The Emergence of a New Civilization from the Perspective of Evolutionary Theory. Russian Journal of Philosophical Sciences. 2026;69(1). (In Russ.)



Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.


ISSN 0235-1188 (Print)
ISSN 2618-8961 (Online)