Radchenko N. The essence, senses and characteristics of dualism in ancient gnosticism

The thesis presents research of dualism in ancient gnosticism. The problem of dynamics of dualism is licked by the detailed analysis of the original texts of gnostics. The idea of duality of world and its contradistinction to God, contradiction of knowledge and ignorance, freedom and slavery, spirit and body, of dark and light and of male and female principles turned out to be the main in gnostic teachings. The most important opposition of ancient gnosticism turns out to be the opposition «God — world», but it is drawn off in virtue of the active role of man who is the participant of contradiction of the God and world. It is found out during the research that the man is the central figure in overcoming the dualism, the man is the one who seeks for spiritual world, for the supreme values.