Cultural imperatives: Edward Markarian's ideas

The article considers the problem of cultural imperatives in studies of culture. The author shows that the concept of cultural imperatives presents the most important aspect of Edward Markarian's heritage. It characterizes a general trend and applicability of his studies of culture. It is grounded on the concept of evolutionary self-organization of society. Markarian views nature not as a means of satisfying growing needs of consumerist society but as an aim and form of life. Only in this case problems related to strategic imperatives of human survival and development stop being ignored. The concept of culture as human activity developed by Markarian puts forward the characteristic of man as a family subject whose activity creates culture as the “second nature” that is not opposed to the “first” one but recreates and regulates human relationships with it, also with the help of imperative requirements. The author views the cultural imperatives put forward by Markarian as recommendations for overcoming today's civilizational crisis.