SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF EDWARD GIBBON’S HISTORICAL VIEWS AND THE PROBLEM OF POLYTHEISM

The article analyzes Edward Gibbon’s view from the angle of social and psy- chological aspects of his studies. The article draws attention to the features of historical pro- cess in the interpretation of the scientist, to the problem of the spiritual foundation in society, to self-organizational aspects of complex social systems. The role of polytheism is described in the above context. Polytheism problem is characterized using Gibbon’s interpretation. Rea- sons for the historical decline of spiritual systems are examined based on polytheism