Mentality of the peoples of the Caucasus in the studies of Jan Chesnov: philosophical anthropological analysis

In the article the philosophical and anthropological aspects of the concept of culturogenesis of the outstanding Russian anthropologist Yan V. Chesnov (1937-2014) are considered. Studying the process of cultutrogenesis, the scientist presents it as a single thought-image, which makes it possible to understand the deep values of the people. Customs, traditions, mental features are studied in close connection with nature, landscape, with the whole range of natural and sociocultural existence. Comprehension of the form of cultures as a component part of existence forms their internal relationships, ethnic features of peoples. Analyzing the ethnological, anthropological searches of Yan V. Chesnov, the author pays special attention to understanding the way of life of Chechens, their mental, psychological features, revealing the deep meaning of ethical values by which they are guided. The central problem of Jan V. Chesnov's research is a person with his morality, mental characteristics and existential problems, which have both a local-regional and a global-universal character.