Philosophy of Hryhorii Skovoroda: Nature and Humanity

Abstract

Purpose. The article aims to reconstruct the course of Hryhorii Skovoroda’s philosophical thought, which will reveal the context in the formation of his idea of a caring attitude toward nature. Theoretical basis. The theoretical and methodological background of the article was formed by the basic ideas of researchers on environmental issues, as well as the developments of representatives of the Kyiv worldview-anthropological school, related to the research of the Ukrainian philosopher’s teachings. Originality. Being a contemporary and witness in forming and implementing the guidelines for the complete transformation of the natural world, H. Skovoroda makes a brilliant attempt to outline its alternative. Its substantive premise is the thesis about the identity of God and nature, and the forms of categorical expression are the concepts of "gratitude" and "ingratitude". For the philosopher, nature as expediency is a model and standard of human behavior, which should imitate nature (a metaphor of a teacher and a doctor as servants of nature). For H. Skovoroda, the thesis about human gratitude to God means a) the priority for a man of higher meanings accessible through self-knowledge, and b) concern for preserving nature as a creation of God. Conclusions. The article argues that H. Skovoroda, as a contemporary and witness in the formation of the guideline for the complete subjugation of nature, thinks about its alternative. Addressing the context of its formation allows us to reveal its main principles. On the pages of the dialogue "The Grateful Erodius", he reminds men that as a part of nature, they have certain obligations to it. The fundamental categories from H. Skovoroda here are "gratitude" and "ingratitude". The forms of expressing gratitude include the idea that nature as the embodiment of worthwhileness is the legislator of the human way of life. Today, at the beginning of the 21st century, when humanity is looking for that categorical imperative of modernity that will allow us to preserve nature, it is useful and fruitful to turn to the heritage of the Ukrainian philosopher of the 18th century, H. Skovoroda. He is one of those brilliant predecessors whose legacy has significant heuristic potential. The issue is that in the process of sensemaking the history of humanity in the 20th and early 21st centuries, which demonstrates the consequences of overestimating human activity, H. Skovoroda gives us the key to a deeper understanding of modernity.