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ABSTRACT
This publication addresses a paradigm shift in civilizational studies by describing an emerging interdisciplinary field - Civilizational Science. A Model of Civilizational Science and a number of macrosciences and macrostudies are introduced, as well as their Matrix. Macrosociology and Macroculturology are discussed as examples of macrosciences. A number of macrosociological theories are visualized with the help of an Integrated Model of Societies and Civilizations-Societies Evolution. Conclusions highlight theoretical and practical applications for Civilizational Science.
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"The painfully perturbing dissolution of familiar forms which suggests to weaker spirits that the ultimate reality is nothing but a chaos, may reveal to a steadier and more spiritual vision the truth that the flickering film of phenomenal world is an illusion which cannot obscure the eternal unity that lies behind it."
Arnold Toynbee (Toynbee 1947: 495)
INTRODUCTION
Through the centuries a certain familiar structure of the scientific and academic disciplines has emerged.' : This includes
1 . Humanities (History, Philosophy, Literature, etc.)
2. Social Sciences (Sociology, Economics, Psychology, etc.)
3. Natural Sciences (Geology, Biology, Botany, etc.)
4. Formal Sciences (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, etc.) and
5. Applied Sciences (Education, Architecture, Medicine, etc.).
However, the more humanity advances into the 21st century and the more it experiences the exponentially multiplying impacts and influences of globalization, the more attention it has to pay to global sociocultural as well as natural and abstract phenomena.
Accordingly, the classification system of academic disciplines is presently undergoing a restructuring. A whole new category of global sciences is emerging, for example Space Science, Planetary Science, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Climate Science, Life Science, Earth Science, Systems Science, Military Science, Police Science, Food Science, Library Science, Fire Science, and so forth. Earlier, during the 19th century, Political Science and other academic disciplines appeared and grew vigorously in size and influence. All of them are, in fact, extensive interdisciplinary fields, which may include many earlier studies and sciences as well as the brand new ones.
Also for centuries, the phenomenon of civilization has remained one of the most enigmatic and perplexing global sociocultural phenomena. Paraphrasing Karl Kautsky's maxim, it "is like the ancient Proteus who slips from our fingers every time we try to get hold of him." (Sorokin: 252). Because...