Смыслы как качественная и сущностная характеристика социологии жизни

The article reveals the possibility of using a new concept – “sense” in the interpretation of the concept "sociology of life" and its main concept the life world. The sociological interpretation of this concept is given and its operationalization is proposed. It is used in the studies of the life world of Russians, conducted at the RSUH in 2012-2016 years and the comparison with a number of studies in the late 1980s is given. On the basis of the obtained data, the main senses of the life of Russians were determined: social justice, social security and the desire to understand what kind of society is being built in Russia. Also the author shows for what sense of the main spheres of public life (economy, politics, social, spiritual and cultural ones) the people strive.