Parting of the ways

ENThe article brings in philosophical literatures from Spain and Russia to explicate the most basic awareness of human existence and to disclose an existential crisis of modern Western life world, called the iron age, and the Russian aristocratic life world and the appearance of modern West in Russian thought. In both worlds appear figures which attempt to liberate themselves from such worlds and experience an existential crisis which reveals a given life world as inadequate for human life, or human self and its Self-worth. Just as any society, the iron age and even Russian aristocratic world, are dominated by functional values which require an evaluation by a measure not identical with any value: the measure is Self-worth available only in action which must be truthful, noble, honorable just, respectful of others and oneself. If a given life world precludes such actions, then those appearing figures become a point of existential crisis demanding ultimate legitimation of any life world. Keywords: Value, Self-worth, life world, freedom, liberation, crisis, iron age, aristocracy, degradation, transparency.