ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the cultural specificity of Indian and European societies. It examines and compares the paradigm of these cultures, particularly as the core of cultural identity. The chapter focuses on historically stable principles and features of both Indian and European cultures. Globalisation represents the main driving force of change in dynamics and homogenisation pressure on cultures across the world, including Indian and European. In European history, the three important factors which contributed to the formation and development of European cultural specificity and to the formulation of the European cultural paradigm: the ancient roots of European culture; Christianity; modern European science. In European culture, Hegel's philosophical concept comes very close to the idea of objectification and was inspired by Hindu idea. In Indian culture, the concept of freedom is much broader and is embedded in the traditional concept of Cosmos. The paradigmatic interpretation of society relates to the active subject of social, moral and spiritual decisions and responsibility.
