Studies in history and philosophy of science and technology

Relationships in the Professional Environment as a Component of a Scholar’s Relational Biography (Historical and Methodological Aspect)

2026-05-20T17:31:55+03:00

The late 20th and the first quarter of the 21st century witnessed the emergence of the «relational turn» in biographical studies. This paradigm frames an individual’s life path through the intricate interplay of social ties and interpersonal relationships. This study aims to theoretically substantiate the significance of professional relationships as a determinant of a scholar’s life trajectory, given that their intellectual culture remains inherently communicative by nature. To achieve this goal, the author employs a complex of general scientific methods, including deduction, typology, abstraction, and generalization. The scientific novelty of this research lies in the introduction of the concept of «relational biography» into academic discourse. Furthermore, the study elucidates the specifics of applying the principle of relationality to biographical studies within the context of the history of science. Main results. The author analyzes the scholar’s professional path through two interconnected stages: the attainment of education and professional activity proper. These stages align inextricably with the dynamics of accumulating, converting, and realizing various forms of capital (economic, social, and cultural). The research focuses on the interaction between the scholar, the mentor, and members of the professional community. It delineates the mutual social roles of mentor and apprentice, the configuration of communication networks within the scientific environment, and the impact of intellectual rituals and «rites of passage» on a scientist’s life. The paper further explores the specifics of social interaction within small groups of researchers and highlights how professional relations often intertwine with other forms of interpersonal interaction, such as friendship and family ties. Conclusions. During education and career, the scholar builds an extensive network of social ties and communication channels. These links form the infrastructure of coexistence. Professional relationships directly or indirectly influence the accumulation or erosion of the subject’s social, cultural, and economic capital. Such interactions also facilitate the mutual conversion of these capital forms. Furthermore, the social environment determines the scholar’s positioning and self-awareness, shaping a relational identity.

Oleksandr Fenin: socio-professional portrait of an engineer-entrepreneur of the late 19th – early 20th centuries

2026-05-20T17:38:49+03:00

Introduction. In the post-reform era, forced industrialization took place in the Ukrainian ethnic lands of the Russian Empire and a capitalist market economy was actively formed, an important component of which was private entrepreneurship. The aім of the study is to reconstruct the activities of engineer Oleksandr Fenin in the coal industry of the Donetsk Basin in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, to reveal the features of his public work as part of the organization of southern miners. Scientific novelty: based on a wide range of sources, the figure of engineer Oleksandr Ivanovich Fenin, a famous public figure and industrialist of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, is examined. Main results. It was found that at the end of the 19th century, large mining companies and sole proprietorships were created one after another in the Donetsk coal basin, which required more and more technical specialists – engineers and technicians. Among such individuals who, in the early 1890s, began their professional careers as engineers in the region’s coal mining companies was O. Fenin, who graduated from the St. Petersburg Mining Institute. From 1895, he supervised the construction of the large Verovsky mine, which belonged to the Russian-Belgian Metallurgical Company, for which he was eventually awarded a personal silver medal at the Paris World Exhibition. From 1899 to 1911, Fenin was the managing director of a powerful British company that mined coal at the Maksimovsky mine in Donbas. At the same time, during this period, O. I. Fenin was still a member of the board and director of the Donetsk-Hrushevsky Joint-Stock Company of Anthracite and Coal and Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Seleznyov Coal Industry Company. It is noted that in 1907, Olexander Fenin was elected deputy chairman of such an influential organization as the Council of Congresses of Mining Industrialists of the South of Russia. He held this responsible position for 12 years. He was also at the origins of the organization of the rescue service in the mines of the Donetsk basin. Attention is also drawn to Fenin’s political views and his attitude to the labor issue. It is noted that during the First Democratic Revolution he was a member of the Cadet Party. Conclusions. It was emphasized that mining engineer Fenin, using his knowledge and skills, managed to become one of the brightest representatives of the technical intelligentsia, who achieved significant success in his activities in the mining industry of the Donetsk Basin in the post-reform era. At the same time, as a representative of top industrial managers, he played an outstanding role in the industrial development of the region.

The Establishment and Development of the Znamensky Women’s Convent of the Katerynoslav Eparchy (1903–1917)

2026-05-20T17:46:31+03:00

This article is concerned with the reconstruction of the history and activities of the Znamensky Women’s Convent of the Katerynoslav Eparchy during 1903–1917. The aim of this study is to analyse the development of the convent from the formal establishment of the religious community in 1903 to the radical transformation of state-church relations in 1917. The source base comprises materials from the official church press and statistical reference publications from the early twentieth century. Employing historical-chronological and historical-genetic methods, the study traces the distinct stages of institutional development, from the private initiative of a landowner and the establishment of a female religious community in 1903 to its official transformation into a convent in 1906. The research results include the correction of factual errors circulated in publications and the introduction of verified statistical data. In particular, the author refutes the erroneously cited foundation date of 1881, which appears in separate works due to the misinterpretation of legislative acts. The study highlights the role of the founder, Kateryna Vasylenko (Abbess Yelyzaveta), who transformed her ancestral estate into a self-sustaining spiritual centre with a well-organised economic structure and a productive farm. Analysis of primary sources allows the author to correct exaggerated figures in other publications regarding the number of residents, which were reported as ranging from 300 to 700, establishing that the actual number did not exceed 200 during the pre-war period. Furthermore, the study identifies the clergy – M. Mykhailov, S. Sokolovskyi, M. Yanovskyi, and K. Yefremov – who oversaw the convent’s liturgical life and provided spiritual guidance to the community. The research demonstrates that the convent’s philanthropic activities were highly practical, exemplified by support for the Red Cross and the sheltering of displaced nuns in 1915. Particular attention is drawn to the fact that, as of 1913, the school and orphanage affiliated with the convent were not yet operational. The conclusions confirm that the Znamensky Convent served as a classic example of a «noble-type» institution, in which religious traditions coexisted with economic independence and a pro-state political orientation. The findings fill gaps in the regional history of the Orthodox Church and provide a verified model of monastic development in Southern Ukraine.

Architectural features of the pyramids of Snefru, the founder of the IV dynasty of Ancient Egypt

2026-05-20T17:57:22+03:00

The article is devoted to the analysis of the architectural features of three famous Old Kingdom pyramids built in Meidum and Dahshur during the reign of the pharaoh Snefru (or Snofru), the founder of the IV dynasty. The purpose of the article is to characterize the technological innovations introduced during the construction of these pyramids and to determine the possible reasons that compelled the architects to begin construction anew several times. The sources of the study are the surveys and descriptions of the pyramids of Sneferu, carried out over the past century and a half by R. Howard-Vyse and R. Perring, W. M. F. Petrie, A. Hussein, A. Fakhri, V. Maragiolio and C. Rinaldi, J. Dorner. The research methodology is based on a multidisciplinary approach, which led to the combination of research results in Egyptology, the history of scientific knowledge and construction, and the architecture of Ancient Egypt. A comparative approach with appropriate methodology was applied, which allowed us to clarify the characteristic features of the funerary pyramid complexes of the IV dynasty. Main results. It is believed that during the reign of Sneferu, three pyramid complexes were built: one in Meidum and two in Dahshur. At first glance, it may seem that the pyramids of these three complexes – the high «tower» in Meidum, the unique pyramid of irregular shape in Southern Dahshur and the classical pyramid in Northern Dahshur – were constructed in different epochs. However, archaeological evidence indicates that they are the work of the same architects who, striving to achieve certain characteristics of the royal burial, went a long way in improving the methods of monumental building: a stepped vault was invented, which allowed the burial chambers to be placed inside the pyramid masonry; an aesthetically attractive true pyramid shape and a standard structure of the pyramid complex were established; the technology of inclined buttress walls was replaced by the construction of the pyramid body using uniform horizontal layers, which were easier to install. Technological innovations during the reigns of other IV dynasty pharaohs turned out to be less significant. Conclusions. The architectural features of the three pyramids at Meidum and Dahshur demonstrate that they were built during the reign of a single pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty – Snefru. Their architects were, in effect, pioneers in the construction methods and techniques they employed, establishing a distinctive standard for funerary pyramid complexes.

Illegitimate children in Sparta: origin, social status, role in society

2026-05-22T21:35:53+03:00

The Spartan way of life – including attitudes toward wealth, marriage, and childrearing – has long been surrounded by stereotypes, subjective interpretations, and even outright fabrications. This enduring interest, shared by ancient authors and modern scholars alike, necessitates a reassessment of certain aspects of Spartan social organization. The purpose of this article is to study the socio–legal status of illegitimate children of Spartans and the mechanisms of their recognition, integration, or exclusion from the civil community, which, based on the material of the institutions of partheniai and mothakes, allows us to reconstruct the idea of Spartan society not as a closed and strictly regulated social structure, but as a dynamic and flexible social mechanism capable of responding to demographic, political, and military challenges and developing institutional ways of adapting to changes in the surrounding reality. Main methods. The research employs a combination of historical–genetic, comparative–historical, socio–legal, demographic, and systemic approaches. The historical–genetic method traces changes in the status of illegitimate children from the Archaic to the Hellenistic period. The comparative approach analyzes different interpretations of the origin of the partheniai in ancient sources. Socio–legal analysis examines mechanisms of legitimation, adoption, atimia (loss of civic rights), and the distribution of land allotments (kleroi) that determined civic status. Demographic and systemic perspectives consider the decline in the number of full citizens and interpret Sparta as a coherent socio–political system in which institutions related to illegitimacy performed a stabilizing function. Main results. The study demonstrates that illegitimate children of Spartiates did not constitute a peripheral or socially isolated stratum but played a structural role in the social and military organization of Sparta. The institutions of partheniai and mothakes functioned as adaptive mechanisms through which the Spartan polis responded to demographic, military, and political challenges. Spartan policy toward illegitimate children evolved over time: in the early period, they could be incorporated into the citizen body; from the 7th to the 4th centuries BC, social segregation predominated; from the 4th century BC onward, mechanisms of partial integration were developed. The partheniai marked the transition to a closed oligarchic model, as their conflict and subsequent emigration to Tarentum signaled the end of social mobility and the consolidation of a rigidly corporate «community of equals.» The institution of mothakes later served as a means of partially replenishing the citizen body. Through the system of common upbringing (agoge) and formal adoption procedures, illegitimate sons could, under certain conditions, obtain full civic status. These findings suggest that Spartan society was more flexible than traditionally assumed and demonstrated structural adaptability in regulating citizenship. Conclusions. The article analyzes the processes of recognition, consolidation, and transformation of social status, as well as the place of illegitimate children within the broader system of social stratification. It demonstrates that their incorporation into Spartan society was one of the mechanisms for maintaining the viability of the «community of equals.» Illegitimate children of Spartiates were not a marginal group but played a significant role in the social and military structure of Sparta. The institutions of partheniai and mothakes functioned as adaptive mechanisms that enabled the polis to preserve stability while modifying traditional concepts of citizenship, thereby revealing the structural flexibility of Spartan society despite its reputation for rigidity.

Research Activities of Staff at the Scientific Institute of Selection during the «Federative» Period (1922–1930)

2026-05-22T21:58:29+03:00

his article examines the activities of the Scientific Institute of Selection (SIS) in the years 1922–1930 and its contribution to the development of agricultural science in Ukraine. The aim of the study is to investigate the work of the Scientific Institute of Selection, the contribution of its staff to the advancement of agricultural science, and the influence of the «federative model» of organization on the improvement of breeding technologies in the 1920s. The chronological scope of the study covers the period from 1922, when the research activities of the Scientific Institute of Selection began, to 1930, when the final establishment of the «three-aspect» model of organizing scientific work in the sugar industry took place. This model integrated the agronomic, production, and economic directions, as a result of which the Scientific Institute of Selection was reorganized into a separate selection department of the Ukrainian Scientific Research Institute of the Sugar Industry. The research methodology is based on systemic and multifactor analysis, synthesis, induction and deduction, as well as historical-genetic and chronological-problem approaches, applied in accordance with the principles of historicism and objectivity. Main results. The article considers the structure of the Institute and the work of its key departments, including the departments of variety studies, agricultural plant anatomy, special crops, and cytology. Particular attention is devoted to research on sugar beet, especially the study of root formation mechanisms and the development of methods for variety identification. Special focus is also placed on leading figures of the Institute, such as V. V. Kolkunov and Y. P. Votchal, who played a central role in advancing breeding technologies and agronomic science more broadly. The study highlights the problems of the federative management model, which complicated coordination between departments and hindered the practical application of results. The analysis leads to the conclusion that, despite organizational challenges, the scientific work of SIS made a significant contribution to improving breeding methods, increasing crop yields, and enhancing the resilience of agricultural plants. The Institute’s research results laid the groundwork for the further development of domestic agronomy and plant breeding.

Development of the radiocarbon dating and its application in egyptology

2026-05-22T22:14:31+03:00

Introduction: The radiocarbon dating method is currently generally accepted for dating in archaeology. However, despite the significant improvement in its accuracy in recent decades, it is still widely believed that it cannot be useful in clarifying the dates of the Egyptian chronology, which is known to us in detail. The purpose of the study is to consider the main stages of the development of the radiocarbon dating and the influence that Egyptian chronology had on it, as well as the consequences that this influence caused. Research methods: analytical-synthetic, logical and comparative. Scientific novelty: the complexity of the consideration of the process of the formation of the radiocarbon method and the mutual influence of this dating method and Egyptian chronology and, on its basis, the validity of the conclusion about the prospects for the application of this dating method. Main results: The radiocarbon dating from the moment of its inception to the beginning of the 21st century has gone through a long and difficult path of development and improvement on the basis of «known» data, which were mainly dates from Dynastic Egypt. The dependence of the method on Egyptian dates contributed to the formation of a negative attitude of Egyptologists and archaeologists to the possibilities of this dating technique. With the advent of the new millennium, when a resolution of one decade was achieved through the use of high-precision calibration curves, the introduction of regional corrections, the use of Bayesian modeling and improvements in the procedure for selecting and analyzing samples, the dates of some periods of Dynastic Egypt could be independently verified. Two large-scale radiocarbon dating projects of monuments of Egypt and the Near East region – the project of dating the Old Kingdom pyramids, initiated by the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) and the project «The Synchronization of Civilizations in the Eastern Mediterranean in the Second Millennium BC» (SCIEM 2000), carried out at the Austrian Academy of Sciences, have revealed discrepancies between the results and the historically expected dates, the reasons for which in both cases are still not identified. Conclusions: A comprehensive study of the reasons for the two large-scale discrepancies in the ages of samples from the Middle and Old Kingdoms may both improve the accuracy of the radiocarbon dating and lead to a revision of the Egyptian historical chronology. The significant increase in the accuracy of the radiocarbon dating achieved to date is gradually changing the attitude of Egyptologists towards it and allows it to be used for independent verification of the «known» dates of the Egyptian chronology.

One of many: the fate of Eva Bleicher against the background of the history of the Yamburg settlment

2026-05-22T22:22:17+03:00

The article examines the fate of Eva Bleicher, closely connected with the history of the former German colony of Yamburg in the territory of modern Dnipropetrovsk region. The purpose of the study is to analyze the historical development of the Yamburg colony from the late 18th century to the early 21st century, with a focus on the everyday life of German colonists in the 20th century through the prism of Eva Bleykher’s memoirs, and to identify the specific features of the formation of a local historical narrative based on written and oral sources. Important research methods are historical and local history, source studies, analytical methods, and the oral history method. Main results. The origin and establishment of the Yamburg colony have been identified, and the significant role of German colonies in the socio-economic development of the Katerynoslav province has been determined, as the colonists contributed to the economic development and cultural enrichment of the region. The development of Yamburg (now the settlement of Dniprovske) reflects typical patterns in the functioning of German colonies in Southern Ukraine: formation in the 19th century, crises in the first half of the 20th century caused by collectivization, the Holodomor, and repressions, and decline as a result of deportations. A unique sourcе – the memoirs of Eva Bleykher, introduced into scholarly circulation for the first time – has been analyzed. These memoirs make it possible to reconstruct the everyday life of colonists in the 20th century, particularly during the Second World War and Soviet repressions, providing a personalized and emotionally rich perspective on historical events. It is demonstrated that German colonies, including Yamburg, became centers for the introduction of new agricultural technologies and the preservation of ethnocultural identity, which made them an important element of the cultural mosaic of Southern Ukraine. Conclusions. Based on the memoirs of Eva Bleykher, the tragic fate of most German colonists throughout the 20th century has been clarified, along with their contributions to the development of the region and the current state of the territory where the settlement once existed. In particular, the transformation of Yamburg from a German cultural center into a modern cottage settlement is described, and the issue of preserving the heritage of the colonists – who left a significant mark on the history and culture of the region – is highlighted.

Scientific discourse: formation, hybridization, disintermediation

2026-05-11T22:20:46+03:00

Scientific discourse has shifted from discourse within professional communities to open, global discourse in modern society. Analysis of scientific discourse is useful for understanding the role of science in public consciousness, the perception of science, the impact of science on society, the development of new approaches to popularizing science, etc. The purpose of this article is to identify the characteristics of scientific discourse as a historical, dynamic, multifaceted phenomenon and a leading element of modern society. Research results. The formation and dissemination of scientific discourse took place in the process of the institutionalization of science, which was accompanied by the establishment of its structural and normative components, in particular specialized scientific terminology, research methods and methodology, an established scientific style of presenting results, norms of professional research behavior (scientific ethos), as well as the formation of a system of interaction between the institution of science and other social institutions. The evolution of scientific discourse from the author-centered, monological, narrative model that emerged in the early modern period to the object-centered, theoretical, non-narrative discourse of science in the classical period is traced. It has been shown that scientific discourse in modern society has become open, hybrid, and global. New forms of discourse have emerged, such as expert conclusions, citizen opinions, commentary, and the presentation of controversial information. The role of the science journalist as an intermediary between science and the general public is changing. Communication between science and society is increasingly moving toward disintermediation, i.e., it occurs without intermediaries in the digital spaces of social networks, scientific blogs, and websites, where Internet users can directly ask scientists and experts questions and express their opinions. In the digital environment, text communication is often combined with multimedia visual content and hyperlinks, and also provides the possibility of immediate feedback in the form of comments or simplified evaluative signals of approval or disapproval. As a result, new hybrid discursive practices are emerging that integrate expression of opinion, writing, reading, and commenting, which previously functioned as relatively autonomous genres. Conclusions. The positive effects of these processes include the democratization of scientific knowledge dissemination, the promotion of interdisciplinary research, and the involvement of society in science. However, there are risks of relativizing truth, lowering scientific standards, a crisis in the institution of expertise, and, as a result, the threat of the spread of pseudoscientific knowledge.

A base representation-linkage frame for historicmethodological analysis of fundamental chemical concepts

2026-05-13T18:30:51+03:00

This study presents a novel methodological framework for analyzing the historical evolution of fundamental chemical concepts (element, compound, reaction) by transforming the Triplet Model of concepts into the Triad model. It posits that any scientific concept can be analyzed as consisting of three interconnected subsystems: (1) the Base (the domain of referential entities), (2) the Representation (symbolic and linguistic systems), and (3) the Linkage (procedural and explanatory relationships). The last has components of three types: Empirical-Technical, Explanatory-Theoretical, and Institutional-Social. The aim is to in-depth analyze three historical case studies, while referencing recent developments in the philosophy of chemistry. Methods. The paper uses comparative methods of reading and interpreting authentic texts, combined with their deconstruction. The main result is putting forward an innovative and thought-provoking perspective on the historical case studies in question. Conclusions. The study is of a historical- scientific and theoretical-cognitive nature, and the results obtained can be applied in research on the history and philosophy of science, as well as in the teaching of natural science disciplines.

The algorithmic interpretant as a transformative factor in the communicative space of digital culture

2026-05-13T18:41:09+03:00

This article undertakes a philosophical inquiry into the transformation of communicative space in the context of digital culture. Introduction. In contemporary society, digital culture has become not only the dominant mode of interaction but also a decisive factor in reshaping the social, cultural and epistemological environment. Digital communication alters not merely the technical conditions of information transfer, but the very ontology of dialogue, representation and interpretation. Algorithmic mediation, the emergence of a «semiotics of surface» and the loss of context generate new challenges for the ethics of dialogue, the structure of publicity and the capacity for critical thought. The urgency of this topic stems both from the speed of technological change and from the philosophical depth of the problems it provokes. Aim of the study. The purpose of the article is to analyse the transformation of communicative space under digital culture through three interconnected levels: the communicative (the reconfiguration of dialogical ethics), the semiotic (the transformation of sign and representation) and the epistemological-ethical (critical thinking as a response to algorithmic mediation). The objective is to reveal the structural shifts that affect communication, representation and interpretation, and to formulate philosophical foundations for their systematic understanding. Methods. Methodologically, the study draws upon hermeneutical analysis, phenomenological reconstruction of communicative experience and critical reflection on the epistemological consequences of digital representation. This interdisciplinary framework allows the integration of classical concepts from philosophy of communication with contemporary debates in media theory and digital semiotics. Scientific novelty. The article proposes a conceptual model for the philosophical interpretation of digital communication as a transformation that is not only technical but ontological. For the first time, the synthesis of communication philosophy, the semiotics of the technical image and the ethics of critical thought is developed within a unified theoretical field. A key contribution is the introduction of the concept of the «algorithmic interpretant»: a mechanism by which algorithms replace the human function of interpretation through ranking, classification and filtering of signs. This idea provides a bridge between semiotics, critical theory and the study of digital infrastructures. Main results. The findings demonstrate that digital media reshape the ontological structure of communication: algorithms displace intentions, surfaces replace depth, and reaction substitutes for understanding. Within the semiotic dimension, the sign is no longer primarily a bearer of meaning but functions as a calculable element within algorithmic systems, undermining classical interpretative models. The philosophies of Vilém Flusser and Jean Baudrillard help to illuminate this transition from hermeneutics to simulation, from meaning to effect. In this context, critical thinking acquires the status of an ethical response to algorithmic logics that privilege visibility, immediacy and quantification over reflection and depth. Conclusions. The transformation of communicative space under digital culture demands a rethinking of the philosophical premises of dialogue, representation and interpretation. Digital media modify not only modes of interaction but the ontological nature of public communication itself, fragmenting contexts and redefining agency. Philosophy of communication in the digital age must therefore serve not only an analytic role but also an ethical one, offering tools for navigation within algorithmically mediated culture. Critical thinking, interpretation and contextualisation emerge as forms of ethical resistance to superficiality, reactivity and the loss of meaning. Future research may focus on exploring the epistemological limits of algorithmic communication and its implications for higher education, the public sphere and institutions of knowledge.

Generative artificial intelligence as a technological and sociocultural phenomenon; a philosophical and methodological analysis

2026-05-13T18:53:52+03:00

This article provides a comprehensive philosophical and methodological analysis of generative artificial intelligence (AI) as a technological, epistemological, and socio-cultural phenomenon. The study aims to identify the key features of generative AI development, assess its risks and limitations, and determine its impact on human cognitive abilities, educational practices, and social interaction. The research employs historical and system-structural analysis, as well as synthesis, comparison, and juxtaposition, to examine the evolution of generative AI and its contemporary applications. Despite substantial technical progress, many aspects of generative AI remain insufficiently explored, particularly its influence on education, human cognition, and societal relationships, highlighting the relevance of further interdisciplinary investigation. The scientific novelty of this research lies in the integrated approach that combines philosophical reflection, technical analysis, and socio-cultural assessment of the phenomenon. The main results include a detailed account of the historical formation of generative AI, the architectural evolution of generative models and the current directions of technological development. Particular attention is given to the technological foundations of generative AI, including deep learning mechanisms, large-scale training, model specialization, knowledge distillation, reinforcement learning from human feedback, and prompt engineering as a new form of human–machine interaction. The study examines key epistemological limitations of generative AI, ethical and legal challenges associated with opaque training processes, potential copyright violations, data privacy risks, manipulative uses of AI technologies, and their possible misuse in information warfare and cybercrime. The study explores the impact of generative AI on human cognition and social structures. The increasing human-like characteristics of AI systems further blurs the boundary between human and machine interaction, raising concerns about emotional attachment, the potential replacement of genuine social relationships, and the alteration of patterns of interpersonal communication. The article argues that despite its high computational complexity and functional efficiency, contemporary AI cannot be regarded as a full-fledged subject of cognition within philosophical and humanistic discourse. It lacks intentionality, self-awareness, volition, affective experience, and the autonomous capacity to generate meaning. Generative AI exhibits apparent intelligence, yet its reasoning is algorithmic and derivative, lacking genuine understanding. The study analyzes technical limitations of AI development and concludes that the long-term consequences of the widespread implementation of generative artificial intelligence remain uncertain; therefore, humanitarian reflection, legal regulation, and responsible governance of the further development of generative systems are necessary.

Originality of theoretical approaches of historical anthropology in the space of philosophical-historical concepts of the XXth – early XXIst century

2026-05-17T19:52:27+03:00

The purpose of this work is to identify and understand the theoretical features of the historical- anthropological paradigm of the modern philosophy of history in comparison with other philosophical-historical concepts, which contributes to understanding the essence and advantages of the study of causality, content and prospects of historical dynamics by historical anthropology. Research results. A significant reason for the formation of historical-anthropological concepts in the reflective field of the modern philosophy of history is the presence of theoretical gaps in the analysis by known directions of philosophical-historical thought of the causes, essence and alternatives of historical dynamics, the study of mainly its individual dimensions. To a much lesser extent, they comprehend the factors of the historical development of non-Western civilizations. The above-mentioned philosophical and historical theories are aimed at exploring patterns in the socio- cultural and economic-political processes of the past and do not essentially analyze their nonlinear, «random» components, which can be largely explained by the neglect of studies of both the conscious and unconscious components of the psychological sphere of historical dynamics. This work analyzes the conceptual elements organic to historical anthropology as a modern philosophy of history, such as systematicity, motivation, comprehensiveness, dialogicity, universalism, and multidisciplinary nature. The set of these theoretical elements determines the originality of historical-anthropological concepts in relation to other philosophical-historical paradigms. Among the latter, it is worth noting the theories of cultural-historical types of O. Spengler, «local civilizations» of A. J. Toynbee, «clash of civilizations» of S. Huntington, «axial time» of K. Jaspers, Marxism and neo-Marxism (I. Wallerstein), Protestant ethics of M. Weber. The study of the mental-cultural plane of virtually all civilizational communities by historical anthropology is of great importance. The philosophical- historical understanding of the indicated problem field turns out to be promising in the analysis of philosophical and socio-humanitarian cognition of causality and content of modern and promising socio-cultural dynamics.

The ethical horizon of the Technosphere: a holistic chain of responsibility of the cognitive agent in eastern European twentieth-century science fiction

2026-05-17T19:59:29+03:00

The aim of the article is to identify and conceptually analyze the ethical horizon of the technosphere within the context of twentieth-century Eastern European science fiction as an alternative to normative models of science and technology ethics. The article substantiates the thesis that within the Eastern European intellectual tradition, stable preconceptions of the responsibility of the cognitive agent have emerged – preconceptions that cannot be reduced to formalized ethical codes or algorithmic prescriptions but possess a holistic, anthropological, and existential-systemic character. The research methodology is based on the principles of interdisciplinarity, holism, and historical-philosophical analysis, with the use of science fiction as a form of thought experiment in the history of ideas concerning science and technology. An analytical reconstruction of models of responsibility represented in the works of Eastern European authors is applied, with particular attention to anti-normative, anthropoethical, existential-systemic, and cybernetic dimensions of interpreting the technosphere. The study shows that in twentieth-century Eastern European science fiction, the technosphere appears as a holistic environment of meanings, goals, and consequences of scientific and technical activity, within which the responsibility of the cognitive agent cannot be delegated to technical systems or removed through normative formalization. Invariant features of ethical thinking have been identified, related to the priority of goal setting over rules, awareness of the limits of control, and cceptance of the «cost of error» as an ethically significant factor. The scientific novelty of the article stems from the substantiation of the concept of the ethical horizon of the technosphere as a dynamic horizon of responsibility, as well as from the demonstration of the heuristic productivity of Eastern European science fiction for contemporary philosophy of science and technology. The obtained results are relevant for the further development of artificial intelligence ethics, engineering ethics, and philosophical-pedagogical approaches to the formation of responsibility in subjects of scientific and technological activity.

Acceptability of the use of systemic analysis in the investigation of biological and social phenomena

2026-05-17T20:06:35+03:00

The purpose of the work is an attempt to trace the limits of the use of systems analysis in modern science. Recently, a significant decrease in interest in works of a general methodological order has been recorded. Especially in such fields of knowledge as biology and sociology. The author made an attempt to trace the possibility and limits of the use of systems analysis. How relevant is it at this stage of the development of scientific knowledge? Are there, and what is the reason for the emergence of its possible alternatives. Existing research in the field of systems analysis is mainly of a general theoretical nature. Rarely touching on more narrowly focused research. This article is aimed at filling this gap. The methodology of this work is based on a generalization of the positions of leading specialists in the field of methodology of modern knowledge, On the basis of analysis and critical rethinking, assumptions are made. Results of the study. The author analyzes the state of affairs in modern methodology. To do this, he tried to answer the following questions: 1) what is the essence of the systems approach? 2) what is its place and role in the methodology of modern cognition? 3) the presence of possible alternatives to systems theory; 4) the limits of application of systems analysis to biological and social objects. The conclusions of the article are the following: 1) systems analysis is the isolation of elements with the subsequent actualization of the structure of their interaction in the course of responding to internal and external irritating factors; 2) systems analysis is a generally recognized and dominant methodological approach in modern cognition. At this stage (so far) its authority is undeniable; 3) there are a number of well- developed methodological alternatives (reductionism, synergetic, phenomenology and some others); 4) systems analysis is quite acceptable for the study of biological and social objects. However, with the assumption that at certain stages of their development, objects may be nonlinear. If the world is systemic in principle, then the systems approach is acceptable. However, first of all, we must answer ourselves to the global ontological and epistemological question: is the world outside us (conditional reality) rational and linear (it is possible to predict, extrapolate)? Is there an internal regularity «built into» it or is it irrational? If the world is linear, then the processes occurring in it are structurally and systematically organized. On the contrary, if the world is not linear and not rational, i.e. in principle not organized systematically, then we have the right to question the dominant role of the systemic method that studies the non-systemic world.