The article analyzes Alexandre Koiré’s From the Closed World to the Infinite Universe in the light of some achievements in modern physics concerning the fundamental concept of space. The evolution of other certain scientific concepts, such as, in particular, the «vacuum» and «gravity», also comes under review. The author concludes that the modern physical world view is again generally based on the idea of the closed (and finite) universe.

The article describes and compares N. Cusanus’ and Paracelsus’ doctrines of human constitution. About thirty years divide the two scientists, which enables us to analyze changes in general views on cosmology and human place in the Universe.

This article discusses the problem of individual subjectivity in modern scientific research and shows the individual’s role in scientific creation.

Thе аrticle discusses the nature of the factors that define certain limitations of cognitive activity at different levels of scientific research. In this light, the author proposes the concept of universal «cultural matrices», one of which orients people to primary attention to the «possible future», while the other determines the interest for studying «possible past».

The article explains how conceptual schemes can serve as a method for obtaining knowledge of structures in organizations and social institutions. The author believes that representation of real definitions of these social systems as visual constructs is an effective way to see the essence of organizations (institutions) and social institutions.

The article poses the problem of social space tension in Russia and its regions. Indicators of tension are proposed. Modernization of the country is seen as a way of overcoming tensions to consolidate the Russian society.

The article assumes that there are two main reasons for the demographic crisis in Russia: the society’s moral condition and changes in the agrarian sector resulting from the transformations of the last 20 years.

The article introduces the reader to the results of the sociological analysis of the Russian dream in comparison with its foreign analogs (the American dream. the European dream. the Chinese dream. etc.). Empirical research has shown the periods in Russian history and historical characters most representative of the collective dream of Russians.

The article gives a historical overview of and analyzes the development of the «division of labor» concept in economic science. The marginalization of this concept in modern economic theory can be explained by the dominance of the general equilibrium approach. Analysis reveals similarities in the treatment of heterogeneous capital and the division of labor in economic theory. The article comes to the conclusion that an alternative approach to economic theory analysis of the division of labor is possible based on the general theory of human action and analogous to modern approaches to capital as heterogeneous stock.

The article explores new approaches to the conceptualization of global innovation and change, captured by the «social picture of the world» concept and its new meaning, analyzes the discussions of this issue at the World Public Forum «Dialogue of Civilizations» 2013 in Rhodes and in the monograph written by the world’s foremost thinkers that was published in New York prior to the beginning of the forum. The key features of the future social picture of the world are outlined.

500 years have passed since Niccolò Machiavelli had written The Prince and had forever changed the character and essence of political philosophy. In this work he touches upon almost every aspect of modern political thought. We will consider the most essential modern trends of Machiavellian study, identify the problems modern interpreters of Machiavellian philosophy face, and try to depict the contemporary image of Niccolò Machiavelli. Is he a «great patriot of his country» or a «teacher of evil»?

The article considers one of the many interpretations of Machiavelli's thought - the interpretation of Frans de Waal, a famous ethologist, who compared the principles of social behaviour in Machiavelli's The Prince with the social strategies of chimpanzees. «Machiavellian intelligence» is the metaphor allowing to research social behavior in man and animal.

The article analyzes and refutes some of the generally accepted opinions on Niccolò Machiavelli’s teaching.

The article considers the issue of mutual recognition of academic qualifications, degrees, ranks, official documents on education and competence as the problem facing countries that participate in the formation of a single educational space, discusses the problem arising from differences between the systems of awarding academic degrees in different countries of the world, and the question of standardizing names of specialties, academic ranks and degrees and translating them into other languages.