Mashtaler A. A Potential of education in the transformations of the knowledge society

The thesis explores the problem of intellectual and creative potential of education as an institution of knowledge in the dynamics of changes of the information world, which is a space for existence and development of contemporary civilization. It analyzes genesis and peculiarities of the "knowledge society" as a main condition to define the ways for educational reforms in both global and national dimensions. The dissertation establishes the correlation of major parameters of education and culture as a result of construction of a new social reality on the basis on information and knowledge. It proves the value of the science, which epistemological opportunities represent substantial foundation for the development of promising educational areas. The author also defined the educational opportunities in the formation of intellectual elite of the society. The principle of existence of "knowledge society" is a production of educational, scientific and cultural innovations, which creates favorable conditions both for social optimism and axiological pessimism with all its destructive consequences. It is the reason for the ambivalence of the education reflected in intentions of "anthropology" and "sociality". Therefore, on the basis of abovementioned a necessity to introduce the principles of human centricity in the models of educational development is proved.