THE IDEALS AND THE REALITY OF THE EAST IN THE LATE 19TH AND EARLY 20TH CENTURIES

KONUL BUNYADZADE

ABSTRACT

In the opinion of some researchers, the late 19th and early 20th centuries is the
second period of revival in some Eastern countries. That period is even called the
second Renaissance. Consequently, 20th century can be considered as the period
after the Renaissance or its continuance: an abundance of ideas and new currents,
enlightenment of the spirits and tendency to originality and etc. However, there
is an important fact should be taken into account: the increasing influence of the
Western thought, its large-scale activity and at last, its nihilistic spirit. It means
that the process of revival in the Eastern countries was the reflection of the
Western thought, only with some specific features. In the article will be considered
the main features of the second Eastern Renaissance that led to two opposite
effects: the formation of the new criterion of perfection and the destruction of the
previous values. Based on the views of Indian, Russian and Azerbaijan thinkers
will be considered three leading ideas not only in the philosophical thought but
also in politics and everyday life: Europeanization, preservation of the national
and religious values.