ИСТИНА

Publication of a volume by Russian philosophers in English by an international publisher is a rare, if not an exceptional, event. For this reason the release of this volume is not an ordinary but rather a symbolic fact testifying that we increasingly understand that in this global and interdependent world different nations may and should know each other better and understand each other better. At the same time, this book is an attempt to introduce contemporary Russia to English readers through the eyes of Russian scholars themselves. In addition, this volume serves as an invitation to creative cooperation, dialogue, and discussion. I also wish to observe that publication of this volume is not an accident or the result of some unusual circumstances. This publication is based on the reality of the new distribution of players on the international arena since the collapse of the Soviet Union and on the broadening cooperation between Russian and American philosophers, despite the fact that, over the last several years, relations between Russia and Western countries have worsened in the political sphere.