Issue #28

Abstract: The paper analyzes the model of the scientific activity and social order organization, presented in the unfinished novel by V. F. Odoevskij «4338: St. Petersburg’ letters». It is shown that the novel has a futurological character and futurological success. The methodological principles articulated by Odoevskij are analyzed in detail, it is shown how these principles allow anticipating the general direction of development of organizational forms of scientific activity, some conceptual shifts in understanding the essence of scientific knowledge, as well as several social innovations. The author compares Odoevskij’s methods of anticipating the future and methodological tools, used by classical futurology, on one hand, and Futures studies — on the other. It is proved that since Odoevskij constructs his futurological scenario in response to the contradictions in the development of modern science and modern society revealed by him earlier, this scenario has not only a prognostic, but also a utopian value — as an ideal model of the structure of science as a cognitive activity and as a social institution, which is capable to give fruitful principles of the organization of society as a whole.