Anthropological Measurements of Philosophical Research

Hesychasm as a Mystical Path to Deification in the Context of Ukrainian Medieval Thought

O. G. Hudzenko — 2025-06-30

Purpose. The main purpose of this research is to analyse the anthropology of hesychasm in medieval Ukraine in its relationship with spiritual values, to identify the role of hesychasm in shaping the spiritual outlook of Ukrainian society of that time, and to determine its impact on the modern understanding of human nature, spiritual development and the path to deification in the context of universal religious and philosophical traditions. Theoretical basis. The research is based on modern methodological approaches aimed at studying the relationship between religious anthropology and spiritual values in the context of medieval Ukraine’s hesychasm. The paper examines the philosophical and theological concepts related to hesychasm of Ukrainian thinkers of the Middle Ages, as well as their connections with modern world religious and philosophical traditions. In particular, the authors analyse the influence of hesychasm on the formation of spiritual identity, ethics and morality, as well as its significance in the context of the search for values that contribute to the spiritual development of humanity as a whole. Originality. The originality lies in the comprehensive study of the influence of hesychasm as a religious phenomenon on the formation of spiritual values in medieval Ukraine and their reflection in the context of cultural and religious processes. Conclusions. Hesychasm as a religious practice had a significant impact on the formation of spiritual values in medieval Ukraine, contributing to the development of individual and collective spirituality, as well as to the restoration of the connection with the Divine. The study of hesychasm in the context of spiritual values demonstrates how Ukrainian thinkers adapted and integrated elements of Eastern patristics and Neoplatonism, creating a unique religious and philosophical tradition. The study shows that hesychasm in Ukraine contributed to intercultural dialogue, enriching both local and global religious thought through the exchange of ideas and practices. The study of the anthropology of hesychasm is important for understanding contemporary spiritual pursuits and their roots in historical context, which can help to shape new ways of finding meaning in life and identity. It is necessary to continue studying the influence of hesychasm on contemporary cultural and religious processes, which will contribute to a deeper understanding of spirituality in the modern world.

Anthropological Sense of History

A. V. Halapsis — 2025-06-30

Purpose. The paper’s main purpose is to establish the nature of the historical past’s reality and its presence in being. Theoretical basis. The author considers historical time as a factor in the identities of individuals and society. The past has a dual ontological status: it is absent as a presence in the literal sense, yet it is embedded in the structure of modernity and influences the future. To substantiate and elucidate the impact of this position on historical cognition, the author employs the methodologies of R. Descartes, E. Husserl, M. Heidegger, F. Ankersmit, and other thinkers. Originality. The author has developed a fluid-discrete model of historical time, linking it with the experiences gained by both individuals and society. This historical experience serves as the anthropological foundation of the subject’s identity and a guide for reconstructing the past. Conclusions. As a historical category, time is only partially connected with time as a subject of discussion in physics and philosophy. All three of these disciplines regard cause-and-effect relationships as fundamental characteristics of time; however, physics and philosophy study them in general terms, while historical science is concerned with their specific implementations. But history also encompasses experience – both that of the participants in the historical process and that of historians or readers of historical texts. This experience becomes one of the reasons behind their actions, as well as the lens through which past events are interpreted. Experience, in both senses, can be false and distorted, raising questions of interpretation; yet, even in such cases, it impacts future actions and thus serves as their cause. Even more importantly, historical experience provides a means of identity. An individual’s own experience allows for self-awareness (I am I), while historical experience facilitates identification with society. Although there is no direct connection to the past, it has not disappeared; it cannot inherently vanish. It does not exist because it has evaporated, nor because it lingers in some unreachable dimension, but due to its transformation into modernity. These transformations can be either fluid or discrete, making historical time fluid-discrete at both individual and social levels. Essentially, the terms "past", "present", and "future" merely serve as distinctions between "now", "not yet", and "too late". In both individual and collective histories, even a minor event can trigger significant resonance, leading to fundamental changes in the future ("butterfly effect"). While it is certainly impossible to ascertain which past events shaped the present, this does not preclude us from constructing a "hierarchy of butterflies" for historical investigation. Thus, reconstructing the historical past becomes a means of self-knowledge, forming its primary anthropological significance.

Humanistic Paradigm of Future Wars

E. Carlisle — 2025-06-30

Purpose. In a globalized world where technical progress and social changes are advancing at a frantic pace, the issues of war and peace are assuming new dimensions. War, a phenomenon that has accompanied humanity throughout history, remains one of the most significant challenges for civilization. In light of the imminent shifts in technology, culture, and social consciousness, the need to reconsider the nature of wars is becoming increasingly relevant. Theoretical basis. Traditionally, war is defined as a means to achieve political goals through violence and military force. However, scientists, philosophers, and politicians should not view future wars solely as a consequence of political or economic interests. This interpretation of "war" can only be applied to conflicts of the past. The humanistic seeing and visionary nature of future wars involves transforming the essence of conflicts – from aggression to cooperation, and from violence to forgiveness and understanding. The wars of the future should focus on addressing the root causes of conflicts through education, diplomacy, and international cooperation, instead of relying on force. In this context, the development of new technologies, particularly AI, plays a crucial role; their use should foster peace and mutual understanding rather than escalate violence. As technology continues to transform military tactics, it is essential to highlight the unacceptable human cost of conflicts. Originality. A humanistic rethinking of war implies a shift from a strategy of "victory at any cost" to the ideas of "global responsibility" and "global solidarity". The new vision of humanistic paradigms of future wars lies in the integration of interdisciplinary approaches combining modern technological achievements with ethical and humanistic principles. In the future, a profound reorientation of societies toward the principles of humanism, cooperation, and dialogue will underpin stability and peace on a global scale. Conclusions. This article presents a humanistic vision of future wars, where dialogue, mutual understanding, and violence prevention play a key role.

Giftedness as a Factor in Constituting a Creative Person

L. I. Tkachenko — 2025-06-30

Purpose. The basis of the presented study is a philosophical and anthropological analysis of the problem of creativity in the modern educational space, which is complemented by information and digital reality underlying the changes in the values and meanings of the individual, which led to the affirmation of the digital person (homo digitalis). This circumstance, in the context of understanding the need for civilizational development, poses the problem of consistently solving the following tasks: 1) to conduct a review and identify a theoretical and methodological explanation of the content and meaning of the activities of a homo digitalis in the context of the transformation of cultural values and methods of communication; 2) to analyse the conceptual content of the phenomenon of giftedness and the emergence of creativity in the discourse of philosophical anthropology and philosophy of education; 3) to expound the main parameters of the intersubjective nature of giftedness in the context of the formation of a creative personality. Theoretical basis. The dynamic process of forming a new anthropological type of person (homo digitalis) brings the philosophy of education to a new level of theoretical and philosophical understanding. The philosophical and anthropological dimension of homo digitalis allows us to determine the prospects for supporting giftedness as a condition for the formation and development of a creative personality as a whole of cognitive, existential and metaphilosophical content. The relevance of the problem is due to the crisis of the axiological meanings of human existence in the situation of the establishment of digital culture, which, as a result of the powerful influence of information and digital reality, causes a change in the culture of communication – from written culture to the culture of memes. This ultimately leads to the establishment of patterns and stereotypes of behaviour and thinking, which become an obstacle to the development of giftedness. Originality. It is substantiated that the phenomenon of giftedness largely determines the strategy for the formation of an active creative personality in the conditions of civilizational challenges that have arisen before humanity and Ukraine, strives for progressive development, and therefore opens up new prospects for the development of national identity, taking into account a qualitatively different phenomenon of the anthropological type of man. Conclusions. The modern era demonstrates the constitution of digital culture, which gives rise to a new anthropological type of man – homo digitalis. Taking into account the serious challenge that digital culture creates, philosophical and anthropological discourse, focused on civilizational progress, is able to provide the necessary vectors of development. The affirmation of the conceptual provisions of the phenomenon of giftedness and creativity proves their influence on the development of education, scientificity, creativity as characteristics of a civilized person. Education is able to prepare a creative person, ready for activity and creativity in the dynamics of technological and socio-cultural transformations and challenges.

Thematisation of Recognition in the Anthropological Reflections of Pierre Bourdieu

Y. H. Boreiko — 2025-06-30

Purpose. The purpose of the study is to elucidate the essence of the concept of recognition in the context of the philosophical and anthropological views of the French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu. The main objectives include analyzing the scholar’s critique of philosophy as "scholastic" theorizing, reconstructing his philosophical and anthropological ideas, and uncovering the existential significance of the human striving for recognition. Theoretical basis. The research builds on Bourdieu’s interpretation of recognition as a fundamental existential goal through which individuals seek to justify the meaning and purpose of their existence. In his concept of recognition, Bourdieu identifies the desire for authority, status, and prestige – components of symbolic capital – as the primary driver of human behavior. This symbolic capital, however, can only be accumulated within society. Simultaneously, recognition becomes a source of competition and rivalry for possession of symbolic capital, driving societal development. At the core of Bourdieu’s philosophical and anthropological ideas lies an attempt to frame the subject of study within objective structures, thereby aligning subjective human experience with the impact of external social structures. Originality. Taking into account Bourdieu’s critique of the "systemic" flaws of philosophy, which is dominated by a "scholastic" mindset, this study reconstructs his philosophical and anthropological ideas rooted in the empirical trajectory of his research, which is primarily grounded in sociological analysis. The concept of recognition is presented as the societal counterpart to the theological notion of justification, serving as a foundation for understanding the meaning of human life. The agonistic nature of the concept of symbolic capital highlights recognition as a constitutive dimension of human existence in society. Conclusions. Sociological analysis, as a prerequisite for Bourdieu’s philosophical and anthropological reflections, does not imply a rejection of philosophical methodology. Instead, it underscores a belief that sociological tools are better suited for constructing of a universal human concept. Since Bourdieu’s ideas were shaped by studying specific sociological scenarios, which in turn formed his theoretical framework, his concepts should be viewed as both the prerequisites for and the outcomes of this methodology. From this perspective, Bourdieu’s understanding of recognition in the social field emerges as the result of human interaction with social structures and other individuals who impose demands and set tasks, facilitating the acquisition of social status – that is, the accumulation of symbolic capital.

The Image of "Homo Travels" in the Context of the Digital Age

M. V. Rudenko — 2025-06-30

Purpose. The main purpose of the article is to understand the place and role of a person in the digital environment and to overcome the forms of alienation in the algorithmically directed sphere of social existence that provide him or her with a sense of freedom through spatial mobility in leisure, travel, and entertainment. The risks of sensory isolation, emotional exhaustion, fragmentation of attention, and changes in sensation, perception of space and time are included in the analysis. The subject of the analysis is the identification of opportunities and threats that cause a change in a person’s worldview. Theoretical basis. The study is based on modern approaches to technology and socio-cultural analysis of human relations. The authors rely on the SWOT analysis methodology to assess the positive and negative effects of digitalisation, which correct human perception of reality and influence the worldview. Originality. The authors propose their own view on the digitalisation of services as a factor of anthropological transformation in the context of human-technology relations, which changes the quality of human existence and leisure. It is proved that the concept of "Homo travels" defines a new anthropological model of mobile human behaviour, for whom travel is a form of self-knowledge, meaning-making, interaction with the social world and the digital aggressive environment. An attempt is made to analyse the phenomenon of the latest technologies, within which the new digital mobility poses challenges to human autonomy, emotional stability and identity, resulting in a new worldview that transforms human emotions, which become a catalyst for change and move into a new dimension of interaction between the physical and virtual environment. Conclusions. The paper states that the digitalisation of services creates a new format of social interactions, expands the possibilities of self-knowledge, but subject to their ethical and human-centred implementation. By introducing the concept of Homo travels, the authors emphasise that the process of digitalisation in the transport sector transforms a person from a passive object of utilitarian use of technology into an active participant in socio-cultural processes that shape human life, act as a means of socialisation, a condition for personal self-improvement, and also contribute to cognitive and emotional-psychological development.

Marginalization of Man in Technical Civilization

X. Yao — 2025-06-30

Purpose. This article aims to study ways of reconsidering the naive and optimistic view of technology in contemporary philosophical literature. Theoretical basis. The research draws on the concepts of phenomenology and philosophical anthropology. Originality. The focus of critical reflection is on negative trends in technological development that pose a threat to humanity’s survival. In this context, the in-depth study of philosophical questions about what technology is and what it means to be human becomes particularly relevant. Naive interpretations often suggest that technology plays a central role in shaping human identity. For instance, Marxism embodies this idea, viewing the level of technological development (tools and means of production) as both a primary factor in historical human formation and a measure of social progress. Naivety also manifests in the belief that radical global change is justified. However, as modern scholars of the history of philosophy and philosophy of technology convincingly argue, these views are superficial and rely on partial readings of classical texts. Today, the recognition of non-technical factors – such as language, rituals, and play – in human development is widely accepted and productive. A deeper understanding of current technological interpretations opens new perspectives for exploring humans’ role in culture and exploring human responsibility. Conclusions. In modern times, the most urgent issue is how people’s relationship with technology is evolving. This is reflected in growing uncertainty and fear. Modern researchers warn that the naive reception of technology as a tool results in disconnecting technology from culture, philosophy, and ethics. The emancipation of technical rationality from value-based one, breaking the link between philosophy and science, truth and goodness, is particularly troubling. Consequently, there is an urgent need to find ways to humanize technology, beginning with a fundamental rethink of the technomorphic view that defines humans as tool makers. The marginalization of humans stems from the dominance of ideas portraying technology as an external tool. Recognizing the importance of language, rituals, and play in human development is both profound and justified. The notion that technology is a means to realize human essence – that is, working on oneself (psyche) – remains compelling. Moving beyond naive views of technology and developing sound philosophical frameworks is a crucial step towards understanding human nature and discovering one’s purpose in the universe. A detailed exploration of this concept will be the subject of the next publication.

Person of Mass Information Consumption as a Phenomenon of Post-Information Society

I. V. Tolstov — 2025-06-30

The purpose of the article is to provide a philosophical and anthropological understanding of the phenomenon of the person of mass information consumption. The study analyzes the main problems faced by modern individuals in a total information environment: erosion of intellectual potential, weakening of critical thinking, and reduction of innovation capacity. The article aims to outline strategies for overcoming these challenges and assess their potential consequences for the future of humanity. The theoretical basis of the article lies in the methodology of philosophical anthropology and social philosophy, applying systematic principles, dialectical ascent from the abstract to the concrete, as well as hypothetical-deductive and phenomenological methods. Originality. The article introduces and substantiates a new philosophical concept – a person of mass information consumption, which, in the authors’ opinion, adequately reflects the essence of the modern stage of personality development. This concept makes it possible to outline the key features of the newest type of person and highlights the reasons for his or her transformations in the new socio-cultural conditions. Conclusions. The contemporary civilization is experiencing profound shifts in the nature of information and its subjects. With the expansion of information and communication technologies, millions are engaged in creating and consuming information, leading to the rise of virtual reality as a substitute for natural environments. This dynamic fosters a divide between an intellectual elite and a mass of superficial content consumers, resulting in a decline in critical thinking and creative potential. To counter these risks, it is crucial to (1) conduct in-depth research into digital media addiction and develop programs to foster critical thinking, (2) protect society from harmful content while promoting access to quality, life-affirming information, and (3) study the effects of virtualization on social structures and cultural identity to anticipate and prevent negative transformations of human consciousness.

Philosophical-Anthropological Aspects of Space Exploration: Main Contradictions and Prospects for Consensus

O. V. Stovpets — 2025-06-30

Purpose. In this article, the author aims to provide a philosophic-anthropological study on the prospects of space exploration by clarifying several related questions: Why should mankind explore extraterrestrial space? Where are the key consensus points, the achievement of which will be the determining prerequisites for mankind to go beyond the current boundaries of inhabited space and establish ourselves in the outer world? How could anthropology help today in preparing for space exploration? Theoretical basis. The author has taken into account a number of recent studies that focus on the social-anthropological aspects of the current stage of space exploration and development. Of particular interest are those specific social techniques and descriptive methods that anthropologists propose to incorporate into contemporary space exploration. These include: thick description method, double exposure method, participant observation method, and special practices of "dwelling", "placing", mapping, outlining, visualizing, etc. Originality. From a philosophic-anthropological perspective, the author focuses on understanding the current counterpoints on the path of space exploration, in particular, analyzing the contradictions between technocratic, pragmatic-political, and humanistic approaches to space expansion. Possible prospects for consensus between different worldview positions on the place and role of man in the process of space colonization are formulated. The anthropological discourse is expanded in terms of studying the possible impact of space development for human identity, existential status, and ethical guidelines of the human civilization. Conclusions. The near-Earth space has already become an object of influence of human technologies. But so far men themselves in near-Earth space are rare, rather exceptional phenomena. Man, at this stage of space industry development, is mostly just an operator of space equipment. The constant presence of people (with their social, cultural, political, psychological and all other "human" attitudes) will probably contribute to the gradual transformation of this space into an "anthroposphere".