Biodiversity - the story of a delusion

The history and current state of the problem of biological diversity is discussed. The origin of the problem, its gnoseological, methodological and terminological basis as well as its significance and pjsition in the system of modern environmental knowledge are analysed. "The concept of biological diversity" adopted in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro is discussed from modern point of view,. Following A.M.Gilyarovym (1992, 1996, 2001), the author considers that the main reason for the confusion and contradictions of modern concepts of "biodiversity" lies in a typical mythological thinking characteristic for pseudo-scientific circles and the artificial boom around the term created on this base.