Ethnic philosophy is defined as the scientific study of the peculiarities of the ethnic perception of reality, developing models of adaptation to natural and historical conditions of existence, the formation of the ethnic picture of the world (Weltbild), one way or another refracted in the minds of every member of the ethnic group, its transformation as circumstances change dwelling ethnic group, about mechanisms for maintaining the integrity of the system of ethnic and social reproduction in stable periods of existence, the course of spontaneous self-structuring of ethnic group in times of crisis, etc. This area of science should be viewed as a component of cultural studies, as all intra-processes should be viewed primarily in a socio-cultural context. Having originated from cultural anthropology, ethnophilosophy competes with a number of autonomously coexisting scientific schools, but so far has failed to occupy a particular place among the sciences, exploring the socio-cultural problems.

The objective laws of human history cannot be undone. Such laws include the law of ethnic philosophy. Ethnic philosophy of each nation develops its own way. It can be expressed in condensed form the most appropriate form of organization and the existence of people and their special adaptation to the existing status quo. Perhaps, in the further development and improvement of methods of the national existence of different ethnic groups will be worked out some kind of general-purpose model of the social system in which more complete will consolidate elements of the various manifestations of ethnic philosophy, beginning with ending the economic life and living conditions. The first condition on the path to such a system is to build a civil society with all necessary attributes: the Constitutional Court, the division of executive and legislative powers, rights and freedoms of people, giving the right to be called such.

Key elements of ethnic philosophy began to emerge even in the depths of the clan. Each individual in a subjective term became aware of his membership in a community of "we" to the extent to which it has evolved the concept of "them" - the people who belong to another group. Gradually these ideas to deepen and expand, helped by the growth and strength of their own community, and a clearer understanding of the differences that characterize "them." Feeling that there were other "they" differ from "their", gave rise to a human desire and need for self-determination, isolate themselves, to better understand themselves, understand who the "we". Based on this people formed a complex of sensations of tension and fear of specific carriers, "they" (most often they were neighbors) to the extent that they are different, odd, unlike "us". On the contrary, if "they" were like "us", formed well-meaning, less tense and anxious feelings. But in both cases and feelings of alienation, and good will stimulate the development of different experiences. This growing spiritual and psychic world shaped the historical memory of ethnic communities, which reproduced the whole philosophy of community, regardless of the characteristics of each individual.

As the ethnic history of any particular nation, in the process of ethnogenesis develops a certain type of persistent features, which is the result of perception from previous generations of customs, habits, lifestyles, traditions, communication with neighbors, etc. Moreover, the historical memory of ethnic transmitted to new generations is not passive, spontaneously, by itself, but through spiritual culture to be assimilated by each individual community in the process of education and practical life together. Moreover, these feelings and moods are absorbed into the culture of ethnic groups - history, poetry, literature, mythology, music, folk art, complementing and developing the historical memory of ethnic group, thereby gaining the ability to produce adequate mental experiences with new generations.

Structurally, the philosophy of each ethnic group is a complex phenomenon that includes two major groups of components: static (long term) and dynamic (transient). Features formed in the process of ethnogenesis, long persistence and fastened in this ethnic group, are static, stable components. If some of the features of short-term, i.e. appear, disappear or are modified during the life of a generation or more, in the philosophy of ethnic traits such is considered to be dynamic.

Ethnicity philosophy exists in the form of specific qualities of ethnicity, ethnic identity, ethnic feelings and sentiments, ethnic interests, attitudes, traditions, habits, manifested in the form of national peculiarities of the processes and states ethnophors, as well as the ethnic characteristics of the interaction and communication between people who called national-psychological characteristics.

Ethnic character reflecting the specific historical characteristics of the psyche that distinguish one ethnicity from another, and a set of interrelated psychological personality traits that are typical for all of humanity, combined in each ethnic group according to socio-economic, historical and geographical conditions of the existence of an ethnic group. It is manifested in stereotypes of perception, thinking, feeling and behavior that are prevalent in the personality structure of the majority ethnic group representatives. Ethnic character and specific, and is typical at the same time, because this particular relationship is closely related to psychological traits that are typical for all people. Features of an ethnic nature can be transformed or disappear as a result of changes in determining their conditions. This is not fixed once and for all phenomena in the human psyche - they are dynamic, but their dynamism is manifested through long periods of time, so they seem to be clearly fixed, embodied in the psyche of an ethnic group.

In the ethnic nature of the intertwined elements of consciousness, ideology and moral culture, behavior, mentality. Attitude towards the manifested through conservatism, religiosity, optimism, pessimism, and other traits. Attitude toward labor is manifested in the ethnic character in the form of features such as efficiency, practicality, neatness, punctuality, commitment, initiative, passivity, lack of organization, etc. In fact, none of the people has a monopoly on certain specific features. In the group behavior of each ethnic group provides a comprehensive set of character traits, the only difference in the degree and form of their manifestation. The representatives of these different ethnic groups have different quality and content display.

Ethnic traditions and customs - historically based on long experience of life and ethnic groups entrenched in the everyday consciousness of rules, norms and behavior patterns, forms of human communication. Ethnic traditions and customs are manifestations characteristic of this ethnic group, and passed down from generation to generation. Customs and traditions - a complex phenomenon of ethnic psychology, which has a dual nature: on the one hand, the phenomenon of the psyche (i.e. they can be realized as well as not be realized), but on the other - the customs and traditions are realized in the actions objectively, manifests itself in specific things, symbols, clothing, etc. Most of the norms and rules of behavior people learn unconsciously through the mechanism of imitation. Initially, customs and traditions of people are being introduced into routine practice consciously. Succeeding generations often lose vision with regard to the causes and the implementation of some rule or regulation, in their minds is only the algorithm steps, and an idea of whether this form of behavior goes into the subconscious. At the level of consciousness remains the ritual, custom or tradition.

The incidences of ethnic customs are mostly domestic relations. They are based on habits from generation to generation are tested in practice and acquire a stable form. Customs and traditions are formed, evolve and change under the influence of social and historical conditions of life of an ethnos. In the process of historical development of some traditions and customs manifest, others die off, others acquire new content, but retain the old form. Originating in the specific socio-historical conditions, customs and traditions over time, become relatively autonomous. If at first they still need the support of their parent terms, then gradually firmed up in the conscious and subconscious of people, they become a characteristic feature of an independent lifestyle ethnic group.

Ethnic customs and traditions are manifested not only in his actions, affairs, communication style, but also in the movements, gestures, facial expressions and other manifestations of people barely visible. Each person has an unconscious mechanism that captures the situation of "friend or foe" in a subtle manifestations of the psyche.