Abstract

The author analyzes the views on the problem of «mental revolution» Robert Mandrou, the second generation of the school of «Annals». Mandrou contribution to the study of the phenomenon of mentalities, and in particular the phenomenon of «mental» revolution is enormous. Thanks to him, the new French historiography changed its name to the historical psychology at the history of mentalities, and in interdisciplinary humanities studies of the Soviet period began to develop themes mentality. R. Mandrou explores quiet «mental revolution» XVII century. We are talking about a change of attitude to the problem of witchcraft at all the French intellectuals, among them ­ parliamentarians, representatives of experimental science, especially medicine. Reconstruction of the revolutionary mental changes in France early modern era carried out in three dimensions ­ human, social environment and activities. Basic mental strategy early modern humans ­ recourse to the all­powerful deity in whose hands is the fate of all people and things. Each social class, professional and religious groups were carriers of its characteristic mental outlook, which is composed of knowledge about nature and man, beliefs, stereotypes, prejudice resulting from education in the family and society, etc. There is a dialectical relationship between the structures of the slow evolution of the and conjuncture, that is giving way to forms of psychological climate in which the developing crises, mature big problem, expressing the evolution of mentalities large extent. Area of mental conjuncture ­ an area of avant­garde, the most susceptible to updates of the society, especially business people, intellectuals, artisans. Mental conjuncture like economic, they differ in duration. Оbviously that in determining the mental climate must be treated and to the material conjuncture: hunger or a good harvest, lack of money or their abundance, health epidemics or relative order.