The text defi nes such notions as culture, cultural studies, fundamental sciences, and culturalism. It argues that cultural studies are fundamental sciences in three important senses: 1) theoretical (the object of research of science has its inevitable cultural dimension), 2) practical (the ability to manipulate signs, symbols, information and other products of culture is crucial in the age of cognitive capitalism), and also 3) axiological (in the context of contemporary ecological risks we cannot aim at further conquest of Nature, but we should rather try to understand mechanisms shaping various  spheres of culture: economics, religion, tradition, art, politics and science).

The text defi nes such notions as culture, cultural studies, fundamental sciences, and culturalism. It argues that cultural studies are fundamental sciences in three important senses: 1) theoretical (the object of research of science has its inevitable cultural dimension), 2) practical (the ability to manipulate signs, symbols, information and other products of culture is crucial in the age of cognitive capitalism), and also 3) axiological (in the context of contemporary ecological risks we cannot aim at further conquest of Nature, but we should rather try to understand mechanisms shaping various  spheres of culture: economics, religion, tradition, art, politics and science).