PHILOSOPHY OF TRUST THROUGH THE PRISM OF PHENOMENOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION AND TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE IN CULTURE: THE UKRAINIAN DIMENSION OF TOLERANT PRACTICES IN A MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Abstract

Background. A philosophical and phenomenological analysis of the phenomenon of trust has been carried out in the context of contemporary multicultural society, with a primary focus on the Ukrainian cultural experience. The relevance of the chosen topic is due to the presence of deep traumatic experiences in a multicultural society, in conditions of growing complexity, uncertainty, and cultural diversity, in which trust becomes a fundamental condition for the functioning of social systems. The study examines the nature of trust, its ontological, ethical, and social dimensions, as well as its correlation with the phenomenon of distrust. It is emphasized that trust, as an existential structure of intersubjective relations, has undergone transformations under the influence of collective trauma. Particular attention is paid to the role of traumatic memory in shaping practices of tolerance and the reconfiguration of social bonds. It is argued that, under conditions of heightened social complexity, trust constitutes a necessary precondition for the harmonization of social relations, as its deficit often leads to conflict and the breakdown of tolerant coexistence. Methods. The methodological framework of the study is based on the phenomenological approach, as well as the principles of socio-philosophical, conceptual, and comparative analysis, alongside systemic, hermeneutic, and interdisciplinary approaches. Results. The study establishes that the phenomenological understanding of trust is grounded in the idea of intersubjectivity as the primary condition of social experience. It is demonstrated that the Ukrainian sociocultural context is marked by a profound traumatic experience—historical, political, and military—which has significantly affected the structure of trust and the practices of tolerance. It is found that trust functions as a mechanism for reducing social complexity, stabilizing expectations, and decreasing uncertainty in interpersonal and intercultural interactions. It is substantiated that tolerance is impossible without trust, as the acceptance of the Other presupposes openness, a readiness for dialogue, and a willingness to assume the risks inherent in interaction. It is proven that the functioning of trust serves as an integrative factor within the system of tolerant practices aimed at harmonizing social relations in a multicultural environment. Conclusions. It is demonstrated that the phenomenological approach makes it possible to reveal the deep semantic horizons of trust as a lived, culturally embedded experience, and to understand the impact of trauma on its construction. It is established that trust emerges not only as a moral virtue or a psychological state, but also as a form of social activity that facilitates the development of various integrative processes among cultural communities, ensures the stability of social institutions, and promotes constructive intercultural dialogue. It is argued that the Ukrainian traumatic experience provides evidence that, even under difficult conditions, trust is capable of being restored through practices of solidarity, cultural memory, and intercultural dialogue.