Transformation of the concept of “chaos” in the history of culture

The article deals with the transformation of the concept of “chaos” from the ancient culture up to the modern post-nonclassical science. In Greek mythology, chaos is a gaping abyss from which all that has happened. It is noted that in binary opposition to the concept of chaos is the concept of cosmos, which originally had a simple and clear meaning of the order. Ancient philosophy has elevated the word “cosmos” to its modern conceptual meaning, i.e. the world order prevailing in the universe. By the end of the classical period in Greece, there were two emerging concepts that defined the meaning of chaos as an empty or filled space and as a life-giving principle. The ancient idea of chaos found rebirth in the philosophy and aesthetics of romanticism. The romantics have given the antique chaos the third sense introducing chaos as freedom. In the 20th century, the chaos moved from philosophy and poetry to science. It happened in the new science of synergetics that claimed to explain the problem of creation. The art of the 20th century represented chaos as an element of a creative environment, a particular potential which originated something new and wonderful. In general, when undergoing a complex historical, cultural and semantic transformation, the concept of “chaos” acquires a significant cultural and scientific status providing a powerful potential for further studies of culture and creativity.