Lyudmila Patiletova

The paper deals with the detailed analysis of the essential (invariant) characteristics of (antagonistic) personality types primarily based on up-to-date concept of cultural theorist, talented anthropologist of the twentieth century Jose Ortega y Gasset. Special attention is paid to the identification of anthropological characteristics of the individual in the phenomenology of art: the “aristocracy” in the elitist art, the “average person” in mass art. The authors view the causes of decline (traditional) culture (its washout due the processes of mass culture). They cause increasing existential angst intellectuals, theorists, concerned with the fate of modern (Western) civilization.

The article reveals the key ideas of the cultural concept of S. Freud described them in his one main philo-sophic works "and its discontents." Is an ambivalent nature of the phenomenon of culture: as a means of survival of the human race culture over time, working from the inside out through the "superego" ("culture"), has become more and more repressive toward man, leaving many opportunities for full human life. Study of the Genesis, evolution and essence of culture is intended to help people choose the right way to achieve happiness.

The authors reveal the key points of the cultural theory of O. Spengler: the decline of the West. The authors describe the ideas of the theory in the Russian and European cultures.

The authors reveal the key points of the cultural theory of A. Toynbee: concept of civilization, concept of civilized growth dynamics, mechanisms of civilization (mimesis, mutation). These concepts, as a kind of “acupuncture” theory, allow to held the scientific and philosophical analysis of the realities of culture, see the occurred changes in the aspect of the Renaissance (height)/degradation (decay). These issues are particu-larly acute on the agenda of the relevant existing Russian Orthodox culture.

The article is devoted to the question of the human destiny. The author views 2 competitive antagonistic interpretations of the destiny. The special attention is given to the first in terms of history understanding (sensation) of the destiny – the tragic one, which formed in the Ancient culture (the destiny as a fate, inevi-tability). The author also describes 3 types of ego individualization according to the main destiny question of death.