The article deals with the main theoretical and methodological approaches to the analysis and definition of the city. It is highlighted that modern authors again and again draw attention to the need for a holistic approach to the phenomenon of the city and tend to multidisciplinary urban studies. In the Ukrainian philosophical thought, the beginning of this work is laid in the philosophy of the city by L. Radionova, who proposes "to build a city in the cultural space as a (...) kind of ontological idea", in viewing the city as the world of human existence by M. Karpovets or presenting the idea of the city as its myth. At the present stage under the conditions of civilizational crises and collision of various cultural orientations unfolding in urban spaces, it becomes clear that the city is not only an arena for these processes, but sometimes also their condition, an active participant and, in the end, their consequence. There is a necessity to develop a theory of the city that could simultaneously comprehend the city as a dynamic cultural form in general and as specific processes that take place in urban environments. The article deals with the main theoretical and methodological approaches in urban studies. The focus is on new multidisciplinary approaches to the phenomenon of city. Such us the theory of the own logic of the cities according to the research team of Darmstadt University; and the SPACE (D) system that focuses on the city from the standpoint of sociology, politics, architecture, city culture, urban economics and city data. (shrink)

Сarried out socially and philosophical analysis of the phenomenon of environmental business. Environmental business is considered as the direction of social entrepreneurship -based, ultimately, on the preservation of the environment. Strategically important areas of business activities in the environmental field are indicated. Substantiates the idea that successful environmental business needs the integration of economic instruments, volunteering business and regulatory functions of the law. The conclusion is that forming the basis for the creation and development of environmental business is possible with (...) an awareness of the need for an immediate solution to the question of preserving the natural environment, that which finds in modern civilization planetary scale, with the development of environmental awareness at the level of the individual and society, with the expansion of the private sector in economy and his delegation by governments of clear rights and responsibilities in the field of environmental policy. Environmental business, which is a manifestation of high-level management, positively influences on the formation of a new environmental concept adequate needs of the new century. It contributes to the greening of economic development, acting factor a guarantee of sustainable development. Environmental business activity as a socially responsible company, in the author’s deep conviction serves the best form of modern business, because it corresponds to the requirements of modernity: first, contributing to solving environmental problems, and secondly, shifting the usual forms of business development relates to the latest environmental thinking and thirdly, acting factor - guarantee sustainable development of individual regions and the world at large. The development of environmental business is an important part of public policy to preserve environment, condition on the way of building an environmentally safe world. Therefore, to facilitate the development environmental business raises an important part of policy not only within countries but also the world at large. However, it is noted that the development of environmental business requires coordinated action by the state, private sector and international institutions. Environmental business as a form of business that is focused on meeting not only private but also public economic interests, the needs of society, is the striking manifestation of the influence of morality on the economy and its ability to influence and determine the economic life of the person. So environmental business appears promising activity socially oriented entrepreneurship both from a commercial calculation, and from the standpoint of morality. (shrink)