The paper proposes a cultural-historical periodisation of V.P. Zinchenko’s life and activity, presenting an integral outline of his interests and his diverse contributions to contemporary science and culture. The principal aspects of V.P. Zinchenko’s creative approach to science are described in comparison with encyclopaedic approach of the Renaissance era. The paper also presents a view of his original philosophic and psychological system set against the backdrop of the 20-21^st-century human sciences, and its more specific aspects, including his developments of the activity theory in general psychology, and his systemic psychological theories describing the interactions between image and action, intelligence and emotion, consciousness and reflexive activity, creativity and intuition. V.P. Zinchenko’s scientific works can be characterised as a union of fundamental research and its practical implementation in the fields of systems engineering and management, ergonomics and design, pedagogy and education, literature and culture.