UNDERSTANDING THE CREATIVITY AND USE OF GILBERT DURAND’S METHODOLOGY IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH OF SCIENTISTS OF POST-COMMUNIST COUNTRIES

Abstract

The article analyzes the understanding of G. Durand’s work in scientific research of scientists of post-communist countries, primarily from the point of view of its creativity for understanding the processes of post-communist transformation. In particular, attention is focused on the ontological status of G. Durand’s ‘anthropological trajectory’, which implies positioning between subject and object, central and peripheral, rational and emotional, internal and external, and so on. This, according to the article authors’ opinion, makes it possible for scientists of post-communist countries to use the concept of ‘trajectory’ to characterize the transition period between two states of development of society. Psychological features of consciousness are also called significant, which are also used to characterize transformational states of societies. Identification, systematization and analysis of the works of scientists of postcommunist countries, in which G. Durand’s work is characterized or his ideas and scientific methodology are used, allowed us to conclude that there is a difference in approaches and emphasis on certain parts of Durand’s work. This is due to the political, social and cultural characteristics of individual countries and the need to consider and characterize the problems of our time. The best practices of participants of the Ukrainian School of Archetypes, M. Karwowska and S. Jasinowicz (Poland), A. Duhin (Russia) are highlighted and the notable role of Durand’s student M. Maffesoli (France) is noted. However, in the vast majority of postcommunist countries, G. Durand’s work is still little known, and his ideas are used primarily by psychologists and mythologists. Common in post-communist countries is the desire to comprehend the ideas of G. Durand and use them to explain the changing present, which leads to interest in Durand’s work sociologists, political scientists and scientists of public administration. Attempts to use the methodology of G. Durand to understand civilizational processes are also noted, in particular, to justify the peculiarities of Russian civilization to contrast it with Western ones or criticize such approaches. The analysis convincingly demonstrates the expediency of wider application of Durand’s methodological approaches to understanding the managerial, social and other problems of transit, as well as for the development of psychology, mythology and literary criticism, which leads to increased translation and publication of G. Durand’s works.