Bulletin of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Philosophy

THE INFLUENCE OF CHURCH BROTHERHOODS ON THE FORMATION OF GROUP IDENTITY

Viacheslav Gapon — 2026-05-29

Background. The issue of Ukrainian national unity is particularly relevant in the context of the Russian invasion, highlighting the critical importance of group identity as a key resource during wartime. This research focuses on the period surrounding the Brest Union – a pivotal stage in the formation of the Ukrainian nation – to identify historical lessons and assess the potential of public opinion from that era. The study’s innovative aspect lies in the application of existential socialism as a methodological framework for analyzing the development of church brotherhoods. Methods. A comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach was employed, combining a retrospective analysis of the founding and programmatic documents of the brotherhoods with a conceptual understanding of their identity politics. This is supplemented by methods of sociological analysis and a hermeneutic approach. Tools from history, political science, sociology, and philosophy were also utilized. Results. An analysis was conducted of the discussion regarding the nature of church brotherhoods (secular or religious organizations), with an emphasis on the fragmentary nature of early sources. The process of the brotherhoods' emergence was clarified, starting with local associations and their evolution after the visit of Patriarch Joachim. The role of granting stavropigia status (1586) was highlighted as a key factor in independence from episcopal authority and resistance to Polish influence. It was determined that the initiative to create the brotherhoods came from laypeople, not the clergy, indicating a desire for self-organization and freedom. The role of the Lviv Dormition Brotherhood as a catalyst for historical change was considered, despite its relatively small size. The ideological foundation of the brotherhoods, their reaction to the Brest Union, and the formation of a worldview based on the principles of "justice, mercy, faith, and hope" were analyzed. Conclusions. It was revealed that the brotherhood ideology is an important source of the formation of the Ukrainian worldview, and its understanding is of significant importance for the modern process of state building. It was shown that the brotherhoods made a significant contribution to the development of democratic traditions and the establishment of the foundations of civil society. It is emphasized that turning to the history of the brotherhoods allows for a deeper understanding of how the foundations of Ukrainian spirituality, civic culture, and traditions of self-organization were formed, which remains relevant today.

THE GENESIS OF QUENTIN SKINNER’S CONTEXTUALIST METHODOLOGY

Stanislav Hrubiznyi — 2026-05-29

Background. This study is devoted to an analysis of Quentin Skinner’s early methodology, in particular its foundational principles, intellectual sources, and ways of responding to criticism. The main focus is on determining how consistent Skinner’s contextualist methodology remained over the years and whether it underwent any significant changes under the pressure of scholarly polemics. Methods. The study is based on a methodology in the history of philosophy, textual and comparative analysis of Quentin Skinner’s early works, as well as his responses to criticism. It employs a reconstruction of the key concepts of his contextualist methodology and traces their functioning within his polemics with opponents. Results. It has been established that the methodological foundation of Skinner’s contextualism was formed in the works published between 1966 and 1972. This foundation rests on the rejection of "perennial" problems, the requirement to interpret texts through their historical and linguistic context, and the clarification of the illocutionary force of utterances as well as authorial intentions. It is shown that in his later writings Skinner does not abandon these principles, but rather refines, specifies, and defends them in response to criticism. Conclusions. It is demonstrated that Quentin Skinner’s early methodology constitutes a coherent and consistent system of interpretive principles that had taken shape by 1972. His later works testify not to a radical change in approach, but rather to the development, clarification, and reasoned defense of the core assumptions of contextualism already formulated in his earlier writings.

THE STATE OF PERPETUAL AND UNIVERSAL PEACE AS A POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC EXPEDIENCY IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF JEREMY BENTHAM

Sviatoslav Didkovskyi — 2026-05-29

Background. This article is a reconstructive analysis of the philosophical heritage of Jeremy Bentham, as the founder of the analytical-instrumental direction of the pacifist discourse of the Enlightenment era. In the process of research, the theoretical basis of the utilitarian project of "perpetual peace" and key arguments in favor of the rational substantiation of the model of peaceful coexistence as an effective alternative to military conflicts were revealed. Methods. Currently, the following methods are used in the work: the principle of abstraction, that is, the rejection of a number of properties, connections and relations of the object or phenomenon under study, which are not essential for solving the assigned problems, to concentrate on its separate elements; the principle of objectivity, that is, taking into account all factors that simplify the process of studying selected objects, phenomena and processes; the principle of unity of theory and practice, taking into account their interdependence. Results. In the process of research, it was established that the concept of "perpetual peace" in the philosophy of J. Bentham is formed within the framework of the utilitarian approach as the result of a rational political and economic calculation, which rethinks war as a systemic error. This leads to the interpretation of peace not as a normative ideal, but as a stable state of the international system, the achievement of which is associated with the development of trade, institutional restrictions on power and the codification of international law. Conclusions. The study demonstrated that the concept of "perpetual peace" in the philosophy of J. Bentham is based on the utilitarian understanding of international relations as a sphere of rational calculation. It was found that J. Bentham considers war as a form of political and economic inefficiency associated with the destruction of capital, the growth of the tax burden and the distortion of the incentive system, while peace appears as a more profitable and stable state. The key role in ensuring such a state is played by the development of trade, institutional restrictions on power and the codification of international law, aimed at reducing uncertainty and coordinating the interests of states. As a result, "perpetual peace" is interpreted not as a utopian ideal, but as a rationally achievable equilibrium in the system of international relations.

ICT AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF BEING: PHILOSOPHICAL DIMENSIONS OF THE NEW REALITY

Mykhailo Kalganov — 2026-05-29

Background. The rapid proliferation and total integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the twenty-first century have fundamentally altered the paradigm of human existence. This research addresses the profound ontological and anthropological rupture where the digital realm has transcended its instrumental function, evolving into a pervasive and autonomous ontological environment. The study aims to conceptualize the philosophical dimensions of this new reality, focusing on the transformation of being and human subjectivity. Methods. The research methodology is based on a complex combination of several modern philosophical approaches. Existential analytics plays a fundamental role in understanding the essence of technology as a specific mode of revealing being – Ge-stell. A powerful toolkit of postmodern philosophy is involved to conceptualize the space of hyperreality, third-order simulacra and the effects of implosion of meaning. Methods of philosophical anthropology and hermeneutics are also applied to analyze the transformation of intersubjective communications, the formation of the phenomenon of "second self" in the network environment. Results. The research demonstrates that ICT has become a total ontological environment that redefines metaphysical categories of space, time, and substance. A key finding is the identification of a radical shift in human self-identification: from classical collective and individual identities to fluid digital "singularities" that aggregate into reactive, ephemeral "swarms". The study highlights the emergence of "infopower," which operates through the algorithmic curation of attention and the monopolization of visibility. Anthropologically, the immersion in simulated relational spaces results in a "schizoid compromise," where subjects prefer predictable algorithmic interactions over the unpredictable nature of the authentic human Other, leading to the replacement of "I-Thou" relationships with "I-It" engagements. Conclusions. The total digitalization of human being leads to the destruction of traditional symbolic orders and the establishment of a post-truth era, where rational discourse is displaced by viral digital affects. This unprecedented anthropological challenge requires a critical philosophical defense of human subjectivity. The study concludes that preserving authentic dialogical existence and developing a new digital ethics are vital strategies against algorithmic reductionism. Future research should focus on establishing epistemological criteria capable of navigating the virtualized network to protect the authentic human spirit from being entirely absorbed by hyperreality.

DIGITAL PERSONALITY IN THE HORIZON OF INTERDISCIPLINARY DISCOURSE

Vadym Kovalenko — 2026-05-29

Background. The article explores the phenomenon of digital personality as a new form of representation of human identity in the digital environment. Today, digital technologies are no longer just communication tools; they increasingly shape the environment of human existence, and this necessitates a philosophical understanding of the processes of transformation of subjectivity and identity, as well as social interaction in the digital age. Methods. The study is based on a comprehensive historical and philosophical methodology, which combines general scientific methods of analysis, synthesis, generalization, historical and logical reconstruction, etc., as well as an interdisciplinary approach, as a special one in this study. The theoretical basis of the study is the works of modern thinkers who, from a philosophical point of view, investigate the impact of digital technologies on the transformation of human identity. Results. It has been established that the formation of the concept of digital personality occurs at the intersection of different scientific approaches. For example, in the works of Sherry Turkle, technologies are considered as a factor in the transformation of human identity. In turn, Nick Bostrom draws attention to the prospects for the development of artificial intelligence and possible transformations of human subjectivity. Patrick Dixon's ideas emphasize the importance of the emotional and cultural dimensions of future social changes, while Andrew McAfee and Erik Brynjolfsson focus on the role of algorithmic systems and the programmability of digital technologies. Domestic researchers analyze digital anthropology as a new direction in the study of man in the conditions of the information society; in this context, the digital person is interpreted within the framework of systemic and synergistic approaches. Conclusions. It is substantiated that the digital personality is a complex interdisciplinary phenomenon that is formed as a result of the interaction of technological and socio-cultural processes. Thus, the digital environment not only changes forms of communication, it transforms the idea of human identity and subjectivity, as well as the very limits of human existence in the modern world.

MODERN PHILOSOPHICAL CONCEPTS OF INTERPRETING HUMAN PERSONALITY

Ruslana Koperlos — 2026-05-29

Background. The concept of "personality" contains a diversity of semantic meanings and is associated with a number of concepts and approaches to the philosophical and methodological study of its meanings within various fields of science. Methods. The methodological perspective through which the research was conducted made it possible to attempt a description of a holistic view of the understanding of human personality in contemporary philosophy and modern scientific discourse. A reinterpretation of classical understandings of this concept as something stable and fixed was carried out. Results. Human personality is a multifaceted and ambiguous phenomenon. The problem of studying this issue lies in the fact that there is no single concept, approach, direction, method, or means that would provide a clear and unambiguous explanation of what personality is, what its properties and characteristics are, and so on. This concept is complex and multidimensional, since understanding a human being involves a combination of biological, social, historical, spiritual, and other dimensions. That is why, when speaking about human personality, we mean a combination of the external and the internal, freedom and responsibility, spirituality and religiosity, self-consciousness and how a person is perceived by others, as well as many other factors. Conclusions. Personality is considered an essential characteristic of a human being, which is formed and changes throughout life. The necessary conditions for the full and harmonious existence of a personality in the world and society include an understanding of various values, knowledge, morality, norms, and so on. However, since central concepts in understanding and explaining personality include such features as "liberty", "freedom", "choice", "responsibility" and "personal experience", the perception of a person as a certain personality – with the presence or absence of specific qualities and characteristics – may not coincide with how the person positions, identifies, understands, and perceives themselves as a personality in relation to the world and others.

HISTORICAL-PHILOSOPHICAL PRINCIPLES OF THE CONCEPT OF SOVEREIGNTY IN THE FORMATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

Maksym Leshchenko — 2026-05-29

Background. The article is devoted to the historical and philosophical reconstruction of the concept of sovereignty as a fundamental principle of international law. Particular attention is focused on the genesis of this concept in early modern political philosophy and its further transformation in the context of the formation of the interstate legal order. Methods. The methodological basis of the study is the historical-philosophical approach, the method of conceptual reconstruction, and the comparative analysis of political and legal doctrines. At the same time, the principle of contextualization of ideas within the intellectual history of early modernity is applied. Results. It is shown that in the works of J. Bodin, the concept of sovereignty acquires a classical definition as the absolute, indivisible, permanent power of the state. In the political philosophy of T. Hobbes, this idea is transformed into the theory of an unlimited sovereign as a guarantor of security and order, while J. Locke offers an alternative model of limited sovereignty, subordinated to the natural rights of the individual. In the works of G. Grotius, the idea of sovereignty is synthesized with the doctrine of natural law, which lays the foundations of international law as a normative system of interaction between states. It is substantiated that the Westphalian model of international relations institutionalizes the principle of sovereign equality of states and non-interference in internal affairs. Conclusions. It is established that the concept of sovereignty is formed as a result of the interaction of various intellectual traditions, absolutist, contractual and natural law. Its modern understanding is a consequence of historical evolution from the idea of unlimited power to the principle of legally regulated interaction between states. In modern conditions of globalization, sovereignty undergoes a conceptual transformation, which opens up prospects for its rethinking as a dynamic and multi-level phenomenon.

THE PHENOMENON OF HAPPINESS AND WELL-BEING IN THE CREATIVE HERITAGE OF AHATANHEL KRYMSKYI: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL AND EXISTENTIAL DIMENSION

Nataliia Yarmolitska — 2026-05-29

Background. The article presents a phenomenological and existential analysis of the experience of happiness and well-being in the creative heritage of Ahatanhel Krymskyi. The relevance of the study is determined by the need for a philosophical and cultural reflection on the transformations of conceptions of happiness in contemporary Ukrainian culture, particularly under the conditions of war, collective trauma, and the reassessment of existential values. The main attributive characteristics of happiness are identified as an internal, intense, and existentially contradictory experience. The differences and points of intersection between the model of happiness represented in Krymskyi’s works and the dominant notions of happiness and well-being in contemporary Ukrainian culture are outlined. It is demonstrated that the existential solitude, intellectual reflexivity, and axiological tension characteristic of Krymskyi fundamentally contradict contemporary narratives focused on psychological comfort, social stability, and emotional harmony. Methods. The methodological framework of the study is based on the phenomenological approach, existential-philosophical analysis, and hermeneutic interpretation of literary texts. Cultural studies and comparative methods are also employed to juxtapose the attributive characteristics of happiness and well-being in Krymskyi’s creative legacy with those prevalent in the contemporary Ukrainian cultural context. Results. It is established that in the novel "Andrii Lahovskyi", happiness appears as an internally tense, reflective, and anti-hedonistic experience, inseparable from solitude, suffering, and spiritual quest. The key attributive features of this experience are identified as interiorization, tragic sensibility, existential solitude, and the prioritization of meaning over comfort. Comparative analysis demonstrates that contemporary Ukrainian culture, despite the dominance of psychologized models of well-being, increasingly actualizes—under wartime conditions—an existential understanding of happiness as the capacity to preserve dignity, meaning, and solidarity in extreme situations. Conclusions. The study confirms that the phenomenon of happiness in the works of Ahatanhel Krymskyi possesses a pronounced existential and phenomenological character and remains relevant for interpreting contemporary Ukrainian experience. Krymskyi’s creative heritage emerges as a cultural and philosophical resource that enables a rethinking of well-being beyond utilitarian comfort and psychological stability, emphasizing the significance of meaning, inner resilience, and authenticity.

TRANSFORMATION OF THE CATEGORY OF CREATIVITY AND THE PROBLEM OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY IN THE ERA OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Maksym Liashko — 2026-05-29

Background. The article examines the transformation of the category of creativity in the context of the development of artificial intelligence and its impact on the understanding of intellectual property. The relevance of the study is due to the emergence of new forms of cultural production that do not have a traditional subject of creativity, which in turn calls into question classical philosophical ideas about authorship and novelty. Methods. The methodological basis is a complex of historical and philosophical approaches, as well as general scientific methods. Additionally, hermeneutic and comparative methods are used to interpret classical concepts of creativity and compare them with modern studies of the phenomenon of artificial intelligence. Results. It has been established that classical concepts of creativity (J. Locke, I. Kant, G. V. F. Hegel) associate creativity with subjectivity, intentionality and objectification of the spirit, while modern artificial intelligence systems are capable of producing results that formally meet the criteria of creativity, however, they do not have an internal intention. This leads to the transformation of the model of creativity from individual to distributed, where authorship becomes the result of human interaction, both with algorithms and with the cultural context. Conclusions. Artificial intelligence cannot be considered as a creator in the classical philosophical sense; however, it acts as a participant in the creative process, which necessitates a rethinking of the categories of creativity and authorship, as well as intellectual property. Modern creativity is a hybrid and distributed process that combines human intentionality and algorithmic generation.

ETHICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL PRINCIPLES OF THE ACTIVITY OF A CIVIL SERVANT IN THE CONDITIONS OF SOCIAL TRANSFORMATIONS

Vladyslav Mavrin — 2026-05-29

Background. Modern social transformations, which are caused by many factors, including war, reforms, and digitalization processes, actualize the problem of rethinking the role of a civil servant. The traditional legal interpretation of his status as a set of rights and obligations turns out to be insufficient to explain the value and moral dimensions of activity. The purpose of the study is to identify the ethical and philosophical principles of the activity of a civil servant in the conditions of social transformations. Methods. The methodological basis is historical and philosophical methods, especially important for the study were hermeneutic and axiological methods. The historical and philosophical complex approach allowed us to trace the development of ideas about civil service, the hermeneutic approach allowed us to interpret classical philosophical concepts, and the axiological approach allowed us to analyze the value principles of the activity of a civil servant. Results. It is established that civil service should be considered as a specific ethical practice, where legal norms are combined with professional standards and moral guidelines. The significance of the category of service as an alternative to the careerist approach, which assumes the priority of the public interest, is substantiated, and it is also shown that the principles of freedom and responsibility, developed in classical philosophy, form the normative basis of the activities of a civil servant. The results prove that integrity is not only an institutional requirement, but also an internal moral attitude of the individual. At the same time, the problem of conflict of interest as an ethical dilemma, revealing the tension between the private and the public, is analyzed. Conclusions. The activities of a civil servant should be considered as a form of morally responsible practice, which goes beyond the limits of purely legal regulation. The effectiveness of public administration depends on the combination of regulatory and legal and ethical and philosophical principles, as well as on the ability of the servant to make a responsible moral choice.

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

Maryna Moskalchuk — 2026-05-29

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.

PHILOSOPHICAL ANALYSIS OF DIGITAL IDENTITY (BETWEEN AUTHENTICITY, PERFORMANCE AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE)

Oleksandr Nezdolia — 2026-05-29

Background. The article explores the phenomenon of digital identity in the context of global transformations of modern society. At the same time, the relevance of the topic is due to the growing influence of digital technologies and artificial intelligence on the processes of self-construction of the individual. The article carries out a philosophical analysis of digital identity through the prism of the relationship between authenticity and performativity, and also demonstrates the main features of the modern interdisciplinary narrative. Methods. The methodological basis of the article is a complex of historical and philosophical methodology, which in turn is supplemented by hermeneutic, comparative and interdisciplinary approaches. This allowed us to interpret key concepts of identity and identify their transformation in the digital environment, as well as to trace the main impacts of the development of artificial intelligence on the self-perception of the individual. Results. The article establishes that digital identity is formed in the interaction between the desire for authenticity and the need for performative self-presentation. It is also shown that social networks and digital platforms contribute to the plurality of identities and at the same time strengthen their dependence on external assessments, algorithmic structures, etc. As a result, it is substantiated that artificial intelligence is not only a tool, but also an active factor in the formation of identity. Conclusions. Today, digital identity is a dynamic phenomenon that combines elements of individual freedom, social interaction and technological influence. It is not reduced to either the authentic "I" or a purely performative construction, but appears as their complex interaction. In general, it is possible to systematize key ideas and determine the main vectors of thought direction, namely, the existentialist concept of freedom of expression, the socio-dramaturgical model of identity as a separate role, the post-structuralist theory of performativity of identity, as well as modern approaches to digital culture, the problem of plurality and algorithmization of the subject were investigated. Further research could be aimed at analyzing the ethical and anthropological consequences of the digital transformation of the subject.

AXIOLOGICAL DIMENSIONS OF KNOWLEDGE AND COGNITION IN THE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN PRE-PHILOSOPHY

Roman Roshkulets — 2026-05-29

Background. There are a lot of revisions of methodological criteria of studying of antiquity, deconstructions, even destructions of previous cognitive paths. So it is interesting to recover sources of epistemological and axiological wholeness of the main ideas of Egyptian Weltanschauung concerning problems of human soul, human fate, time and eternity. We emphasized the explication of some worldview models of the Egyptian cognition style and its value interpretation too. Methods. First of all we used J. Assmann’s approach to the studying of Egyptian mythology with revealing of value and cognition constants, worldview conceptions which we should interpret as philosophical ideas. Also we have based on D. Chyzhevskyi’s methodological way of the investigation of the history of philosophy neither as entirely rationalistic phenomenon with elimination of philosophy from a lot of cultures and epochs nor entirely culturally engaged approach when it is assumed philosophy is in each culture by default because there are worldview meditations within these cultures. We have made an attempt to explain some epistemological manifestations of the ancient Egyptian culture by reconstruction and interpretation of implications of Egyptian literature and mythology. Results. A key phenomenon of Egyptian eschatology — "The Book of the Dead" — is mostly a book about life, even eternity, about defeating death through cognition and moral development. The Kingdom of Maat is the realm of moral truth. Osiris is also an idea of truth, moral dignity and resurrection through rebirth. The paradise fields in Egyptian mythology are called the Island of Truth. The structure of the human soul contains seven levels of self-cognition and self-improvement — from the material body to the eternal kind of soul. Each kind of soul has its relevant kind of mind. There are two kinds of time in ancient Egyptian mythology — neheh as circular and regenerative time, and djet as the counter-concept of cyclical time. Conclusions. Although ancient Egyptian culture did not transform worldview meditations into fully philosophical knowledge, it nevertheless provided different cultural material (for example, images of Osiris or Thoth) for subsequent philosophical interpretations and relevant theoretical reconstructions.

THEORY OF VISUAL ARGUMENTATION: STATUS OF VISUAL IN ARGUMENT

Ivan Savchuk — 2026-05-29

Background. The article examines the formation and problematic boundaries of the concept of visual argumentation, which emerged in response to the growing role of images in contemporary public communication. The relevance of the study is determined by the fact that images function as means of persuasion. This creates a methodological challenge for informal logic and argumentation theory, since it requires clarification of whether an image can be regarded as an argument that contains premises and a conclusion. The aim of the article is to analyze the key positions in the debate on the status of the image as an argument and to assess the criteria for distinguishing visual arguments. Methods. The study is conducted in the form of conceptual analysis and theoretical review. Argument analysis was applied, which made it possible to reconstruct D. Fleming’s position against recognizing images as arguments, the counterarguments of D. Birdsell and L. Groarke, as well as the later approaches of I. Ž. Žagar, G. Roque, and I. Grancea. The comparative method was used to compare the normative assumptions of different positions and to identify the internal contradictions of the theory. Results. It is shown that D. Fleming substantiates the impossibility of visual argument through the requirement of verbal expression, contestability, and a clear structure of premises and conclusion. By contrast, D. Birdsell and L. Groarke argue that images can participate in argumentation if their meaning is determined through context, visual culture, and their connection with verbal elements. At the same time, it is established that a broad interpretation of visual arguments remains problematic, since not all images that persuade can automatically be considered arguments. Of particular importance are the criteria according to which a visual element must introduce new information into the message rather than merely duplicate the text. Conclusions. The theory of visual argumentation is an important step in expanding the subject field of argumentation theory; however, it requires clearer criteria for demarcating argument, persuasion, influence, and manipulation. The criticism of visual argumentation for its structural ambiguity is partly applicable to verbal argumentation in natural language as well. The further development of argumentation theory should include an analysis of how arguments are represented not only in verbal form.

PHENOMENOLOGICAL EXPLICATION OF INTEROCEPTIVE EXPERIENCE IN TRAUMA-FOCUSED ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT THERAPY: CONCEPTS, PRINCIPLES, AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Davyd Tsybenko — 2026-05-29

Background. The perception of internal bodily states (interoception) serves as a fundamental mechanism of traumatic experience. In clinical practice, this experience often remains unarticulated and phenomenologically inaccessible due to a deficit in the skill of tacting private events. This creates a fundamental obstacle to the integration of traumatic experience within Trauma-Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (TF-ACT). The study aims to conceptualize the philosophical and methodological dimensions of phenomenological explication as a pragmatic tool for stimulus discrimination in TF-ACT. Methods. The research relies on a comprehensive integration of Contextual Behavioral Science (CBS) and phenomenological methods. Historical and philosophical reconstruction is applied to overcome Cartesian dualism through the 4E cognition paradigm (enactivism). To analyze the transformation of interoceptive experience, the frameworks of Relational Frame Theory (RFT) and micro-phenomenological analysis (EASE scale) are utilized. Results. The complementarity of descriptive contextualism (phenomenology) and functional contextualism (ACT) is demonstrated. Trauma is conceptualized as an ontological rupture in the mode of "being-in-the-world" and a total disruption of stimulus control, where interoceptive signals acquire aversive functions through arbitrarily applied relational framing. It is substantiated that under conditions of continuous traumatic stress (the military context of Ukraine), phenomenological explication acts as a necessary epistemological bridge that translates undifferentiated somatic terror into a structured phenomenon, enabling the processes of defusion and acceptance. Conclusions. Maintaining authentic contact with embodiment requires the integration of micro-phenomenological interviewing into TF-ACT protocols. Phenomenological explication does not contradict radical behaviorism but serves as an instrument of behavioral shaping to establish precise stimulus control over private events, ensuring psychological flexibility under conditions of objective existential threat.

DECOLONIZATION OF KNOWLEDGE OR A NEW MONOPOLY OF LEGITIMACY? EPISTEMIC GOVERNANCE AND THE DEMODERNIZATION TRAJECTORIES OF POST-SOVIET SOCIETIES

Viacheslav Semyk — 2026-05-29

Background. The article offers a socio-philosophical reading of the decolonization of knowledge in post-Soviet societies and asks whether freeing knowledge from colonial tutelage does not turn into a new monopoly of legitimacy. The study is subordinated to the broader framework of analyzing demodernization processes and focuses on epistemic governance as the mechanism that sanctions legitimate knowledge. Methods. The work is theoretical and analytical, combining conceptual analysis, critical interpretation of sources, and a neo-institutional optics of epistemic governance with the normative toolkit of theories of epistemic injustice. Its key device is a heuristic gradient between "monopoly" and "anarchy" of legitimacy, along which particular epistemic orders can be located. Results. It is shown that the decolonization of knowledge should not be conceived as a change in who owns the right to legitimacy, since this leaves the monopolistic logic intact; rather, it appears as a reconstruction of the procedures of validation, accountability, and participation. Demodernization of knowledge is interpreted not as an instantaneous collapse but as a direction of movement along the gradient, whose character is determined by the state of epistemic procedures rather than by the loudness of proclaimed values. The post-Soviet case of double coloniality is revealed as the sharpest test of the proposed framework, where a justified demand for subjecthood borders on the risk of an "epistemic reversal." Conclusions. The main result is a shift of the question from "whose legitimacy" to "by what procedures legitimacy is established," which makes it possible to distinguish the restoration of epistemic subjecthood from the construction of a new monopoly. The resilience of post-Soviet societies to demodernization failures depends on the capacity of institutions to maintain transparent and contestable criteria of legitimacy; the prospect lies in operationalizing the framework into measurable indicators and comparative institutional studies.

THE ETHICS OF THE PONTOON: THE ECOLOGICAL PARADIGM AND DEMOCRATIC VALUES OF EDUCATION IN AN AGE OF PERMANENT CRISIS

Serhii Terepyshchyi — 2026-05-29

Background. The article addresses the question of what sustains the viability of education under conditions in which crisis has ceased to be an exception and has become the everyday backdrop to the existence of educational systems. The classical modern model of education was built upon the logic of the wall — a stable institution whose strength rested on the immovability of its supports; yet it was precisely this immovability that turned into fragility in the face of pandemics, climatic shifts, and the devastations of war. In response to this limit, the author proposes the image of the pontoon — a temporary crossing whose stability derives not from a foundation but from the mutual interlinkage of equal elements. The research problem emerges at the intersection of two paradigms that are usually examined separately: the ecological paradigm of education, which conceives of learning by analogy with complex social-ecological systems, and the democratic tradition, which emphasises participation and distributed responsibility. The aim of the article is to provide a conceptual grounding for the ethics of the pontoon as a principle that unites an ecological understanding of resilience with a democratic understanding of value. Methods. The methodological basis of the study combines a philosophical-hermeneutic approach with the conceptual apparatus of the theory of social-ecological systems. The hermeneutic lens makes it possible to interpret education as a space of meaning-making, in which resilience is inseparable from a community's capacity to jointly interpret its own experience. The theory of social-ecological systems supplies the conceptual framework for describing the adaptability, feedback loops, and emergent restoration of educational systems. The ethical component of the analysis draws on the Aristotelian tradition of the virtues, for which the common good and responsibility towards others constitute a form of human self-realisation. This threefold combination forms a perspective that allows the inner unity of the ecological and democratic dimensions of education to come into view. Results. The study has shown that the model of education as a protective wall has exhausted itself, since its stability rested on resistance to change rather than on adaptability. The logic of the pontoon, by contrast, construes resilience as a dynamic property that arises from the connectedness of participants and is formed in the process of passing jointly through trials. The analysis revealed that the pontoon structure holds together by the same principle as a democratic community — through the distributed mutual responsibility of many equal elements. Democratic values thus appear not as an external norm but as an internal condition of the ecological resilience of education, without which adaptability degenerates into a purposeless technical adjustment. The Ukrainian experience of education under the conditions of war, and in particular the phenomenon of displaced universities, has lent empirical weight to these constructions, demonstrating that the bearer of educational continuity is the bond between people rather than the physical support of an institution. Conclusions. The proposed concept of the ethics of the pontoon makes it possible to overcome the disciplinary separation of the ecological and democratic traditions of conceptualising education, showing that they describe the same reality from different sides. Education in an age of permanent crisis retains its viability when it is arranged as an ecologically adaptive and democratically connected system of distributed responsibility. The ecological and the democratic in education prove to be not merely compatible but mutually necessary: resilience without participation is devoid of purpose, while participation without resilience lacks support. The principal limitation of the study is its predominantly conceptual character, which entails the need for further empirical verification of the proposed model. Promising directions include the development of indicators of pontoon resilience, a comparative analysis of different crisis contexts, and the elaboration of the question of institutional design, which is especially relevant for the post-war reconstruction of education in Ukraine.

LOGIC OF THE SPIRITUAL INDUSTRY OF OUTSTANDING ALUMNI AND PROFESSORS OF THE FACULTY OF PHILOSOPHY

Anatolii Konverskyi — 2026-05-29

Welcome speech to the opening of the International Scientific Conference "Days of Science of the Faculty of Philosophy – 2026"