The genealogy of the city in light of the idea of the "middle"

The article is devoted to the problem of the origin of the city from the point of view of the cultural development of urban space. The Medieval town did not create its own unique culture from the very beginning, but created it through parodic rejections of earlier cultural traditions (aristocratic, religious and peasant ones). The city collides with the leading cultures, but constantly withdraws from their influence without creating its own spiritual center. The author’s special understanding of the idea of the «middle» in urban environment differs from that of Aristotle. It leads to relativism and the flourishing of the main tenor of urban culture - boorishness.