Kyiv-Mohyla Humanities Journal

Kant’s Anniversary in Light of Recent publications in “Sententiae” (2020–2024)

Ivan Ivashchenko — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Kant’s Аnniversary in Light of Recent Publications in Sententiae (2020–2024)

Victor Kozlovskyi. “Kantova antropolohiia. Dzherela. Konsteliatsii. Modeli”. 2nd ed. Kyiv: Duh i Litera, 2023

Vlada Davidenko — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Victor Kozlovskyi. Kantova antropolohiia. Dzherela. Konsteliatsii. Modeli. 2nd ed. Kyiv: Duh i Litera, 2023

Olga Onuch and Henry Hale. “The Zelensky Effect”. London: Hurst and Co, 2023. Dominique Arel and Jesse Driscoll. “Ukraine’s Unnamed War. Before the Russian Invasion of 2022”. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2023

Taras Kuzio — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Olga Onuch and Henry Hale. “The Zelensky Effect”. London: Hurst and Co, 2023. Dominique Arel and Jesse Driscoll. “Ukraine’s Unnamed War. Before the Russian Invasion of 2022”. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2023

Kant on the Sensual and Rational Factors of Human Actions: A Рsychological and Transcendental Analysis

Viktor Kozlovskyi — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0200

The article examines Immanuel Kant’s psychological and transcendental analysis of the factors that determine human actions in different ways and with different strengths. Based on the works, in particular, Critique of Pure Reason, Critique of Practical Reason, and Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, as well as lecture notes and notes of the German philosopher, it was possible to study the interaction between the sensual determination of human actions – stimuli, affects and passions, and the rational determination of human actions-motives, imperatives, and freedom. We investigate how Immanuel Kant preserves the basic meaning of freedom in the interweaving and interaction of various factors that significantly influence human actions.

Kyiv Academic Philosophers of the 19th Century: Dialog with Kant about Education

Svitlana Kuzmina, Svitlana Avdieieva — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0200

This article attempts to present the dialogue between 19th – century Kyiv academic philosophers and Kant regarding the issues related to the “pedagogical paradox” formulated in his Lectures on Pedagogy.
The main finding is the specific contributions made by Kyiv academics to Kant’s reasoning about education. Such a peculiarity was defined by the educational paradigm based on the requirements of the Charters of the Russian theological academies, which mandated that all philosophical doctrines be considered from the perspective of Orthodox Christian dogma. This approach led to the recognition of the child’s full right to humanity, thereby reinforcing Kant’s postulate on the universal significance of education. Simultaneously, it expanded the possibilities for overcoming the contradiction of the pedagogical paradox, allowing Kyiv academic philosophers to pose a fundamental question about how to create a space of freedom in education.
By acknowledging the capacity for moral freedom as inherent in the child’s nature, the strategic logic of pedagogical interaction in the reasoning of Kyiv academics shifted from Kant’s “active expectation” – where the child intellectually matures to understand moral ideas – to a logic of “interactive support,” where educators assist the child in realizing their personhood through accessible forms of moral activity. Consequently, within the context of these discussions, the theme of pedagogical creativity emerged prominently in the Kyiv philosophical and pedagogical discourse of the 19th century, underscoring the impossibility of standard solutions in a field where freedom and necessity are constantly negotiated.

“Philosophy of Humanism and Enlightenment”: Kant and Neo-Kantians in Yevhen Spektorskyi’s Investigations into Philosophy of Social Science

Oksana Krupyna — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0200

The article explores the influence of Kantian and Neo-Kantian philosophy on a prominent philosopher and educator, Yevhen Vasyliovych Spektorskyi’s (1875–1951) views regarding the nature and methodology of social sciences. First, it explores Spektorskyi’s consideration of Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) as a philosopher of science, emphasizing the critical aspect of his philosophy and its significant prospects for ethics and social philosophy. Next, it investigates how Spektorskyi became acquainted with and was influenced by Neo-Kantian philosophy, especially the Marburg school. The main problem through the lens of which Spektorskyi analyzed their achievements was the idea of “pure” ethics as a firm foundation for social science, while criticizing Herman Cohen (1842–1918) for claiming this foundation to lie in jurisprudence. Despite being an adherent of the Baden school, Bohdan Kistiakivskyi (1868–1920) presented views that were quite similar to Spektorskyi’s regarding the exceptional status and methods of social science. The emphasis on logical procedures and the need for rational discussion allows us to draw a parallel between Spektorskyi and the development of Kantian ideas in the 20th-century communicative philosophy. The justification of the “moral” sciences led Spektorskyi to criticize the Baden Neo-Kantians, advocating for the moral nature of social sciences and their importance in constructing social reality. The project of rational social science aimed at governance and politics is reminiscent of Kant’s “anthroponomy”.

Toward Perpetual Peace in Ukraine: Reception of I. Kant in the Literary and Philosophical Reflections of V. Vynnychenko and the Present

Nataliia Kobzei — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0200

The article offers a comparative analysis of the peacemaking views of Immanuel Kant and Volodymyr Vynnychenko, who sought to find effective mechanisms for establishing “perpetual peace on earth”. The model of the Ukrainian writer’s collectivist society represents the Kantian concept of a “federation of free states” and an alternative for the modern world without war. Common points of contact between the philosophical treatises of Kant and Vynnychenko are found and the progressiveness of the “utopian” projects of thinkers that have already been implemented or are at the implementation stage for its improvement is shown. It is proved that the Kantian-Vynnychenko peace is a phenomenon that developed in a certain cultural and historical context, so it is quite legitimate to talk about the identity of German-Ukrainian ideas in terms of the continuity of the philosophical tradition and temporal connections. We hypothesize that both authors created an effective conceptual basis for achieving peaceful coexistence on Earth, which is neither rational nor logical to neglect in today’s realities.

Genius and Art: Kant’s Theory of Genius and the Concept of Genius in Ukrainian Fictionalized Biographies of Artists

Oksana Levytska — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0200

The article is dedicated to analyzing the nature of genius in the context of the development of fiction about artists. From the biographies of the famous Renaissance artists by G. Vasari, who made one of the first attempts at chronicling the lives of geniuses of his time, to modern fictionalized biographies of genius artists – we can trace the desire of writers to comprehend the nature of the artists and sculptors’ genius. The foundation of the concept of genius can be found in Immanuel Kant’s works, which synthesized theories developed previously and influenced the understanding of genius by future generations. The paper analyses the consonance of Kant’s aesthetics with the concept of genius in fictionalized biographies of F. Goya, M. Bashkirtseva, V. van Gogh, P. Gauguin, O. Novakivskyi, K. Bilokur, P. Picasso, V. Tsymbal, S. Karaffa-Korbut and other artists, while focusing on the Ukrainian texts of the 20th–early 21st centuries. The research attempts to single out and analyze elements of conceptualizing the notion of genius in novels, including the concepts of the beautiful and the sublime in art, recognition of genius in society, the gender aspect of genius, the issues of heredity, and others. The representation of the image of genius in visual arts, iconography, and the cult of genius are discussed within an intermedial framework.
The research relies on literary and art criticism methodology and comparative and intermedial studies.

Interpretation of Freedom in the Works of G. K. Chesterton

Aneliya Polshchak — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0200

In this article, we analyze G.K. Chesterton’s perspective on freedom. In his works, Chesterton emphasizes the importance of defining freedom and accepting its existence. He describes different types of freedom, including freedom of will and freedom of thought, and examines them from both scientific and philosophical perspectives. Chesterton does not believe that free will is merely about fulfilling human desires, nor does he deny its existence due to the presence of cause-and-effect relationships. For Chesterton, freedom of thought must also strike a balance to prevent it from becoming a dull and predictable process by following a rigid causal logic. It is important to consider the potential for abuse when exploring the idea that concepts and beliefs are relative and the concept of relativism. This relativistic approach, Chesterton argues, can lead to a disregard for the reality of the world. Both Kant and Chesterton believe that the defense of freedom is closely tied to the existence and defense of dogma. Chesterton highlights the distinctiveness of Christian dogma in comparison to other teachings of his era. He believes that the Christian creed safeguards human freedom by mirroring the Creator. Drawing from his personal experiences, Chesterton defends the presence of both a logical and mystical element in human life.

Benevolence “Regardless of Sex, Rank, or Nature”: Society and State in the Travelogues of Ivan Galagan

Oleksandr Khodakivskyi — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0200

This article explores Galagan’s social and political visions through a comparative analysis of his travelogues, set against three cultural contexts: the local Cossack officers’ milieu, the Russian imperial framework, and Enlightenment ideals. By comparing Galagan’s writings with the narratives of other Cossack officers such as Kozelskyi, Poletyka, and Vynskyi, this study reveals that Galagan’s social and political identities reflect a broader, shared collective identity shaped by Enlightenment ideals, which evolved into a distinct regional interpretation. Galagan aligns with core values such as love of humanity, justice, and common well-being. His notion of equality focuses on the benevolent treatment of members of society rather than on social status, and reason is seen as a means to achieve well-being rather than an end in itself. By the time of his travels these concepts were already internalized within his identity, reflecting a blend of regional and Enlightenment influences, which contrasted with Russian imperial discourse. Galagan’s case exemplifies the synthesis of regional identity with Enlightenment ideals, contributing to a humanistic and occasionally republican worldview. The study supports the argument that the Enlightenment provided a nurturing environment for the evolution of Cossack officers’ core values into republican or anti-absolutist ideas.

Seraphic Gender in “Doktor Serafikus” by V. Domontovych

Yuliia Karpets — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0200

The article explores the seraphic gender and its main features as an essential part of groundless existence, which was symptomatic of the Ukrainian 1920s, and examines its existentialist intentions in literature, tracing its origin back to the early European modernist literature. The research closely refers to transformations of seraphic discourse throughout the 1910s-1940s and analyzes the unexplored chapters of the novel that influence the path of Doktor Serafikus. The elaborated theory of seraphic gender is presented through the following components: first, the meaningful constituents of seraphicity viewed through the early modernist perspective on sexuality and gender (androgyny, “imaginary sexuality,” and homosexuality); secondly the interrelations of desire and writing; and thirdly, seraphicity in its expanded definition as an anthropomorphic landscape and its dissolution in music. The research is based on a partial reconstruction of s the cultural and historical circumstances that contributed to the evolution of Doktor Serafikus, as well as feminist psychoanalytic criticism as proposed by Julia Kristeva and a post-structural approach to textual analysis.

The Jewish World of Yurii Shevelov (Based on Memoirs and Essays)

Tetiana Shestopalova, Nataliya Torkut — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0200

The article deals with the intellectual biography of Yuri Shevelov (1908–2002); in particular, it covers and analyzes the contacts of this Ukrainian Slavic scholar and writer with representatives of the Jewish nation in the Kharkiv period of his life. In his memoirs and essays, he repeatedly uses the expression “Ukrainian Jews”, forming an author’s unique and axiologically marked concept of “his Jews” (spiritually close Jews or “svoji jevreji” in Ukrainian in these texts). Yu. Shevelov found his “spiritually close Jews” in Kharkiv in the 1910s and 1930s. He called them so because he felt their closeness as carriers of those moral principles and psychological and intellectual qualities that were important to him as a Ukrainian by his conscious choice. The aim of the article is to clarify the specifics of the phenomenon of Yu. Shevelov’s Jewish world as a specific part of his social and intellectual environment before World War II. Yu. Shevelyov’s “Jewish World” is considered a phenomenological construct reflected in the scholar’s memoirs and essays describing his relations with Jews and their role in shaping his intellectualism, critical thinking, moral principles, and worldview in general. The components of Yu. Shevelyov’s “Jewish World” are his relations with Jews in everyday life described in his memoirs and reflections on the Kharkiv performances of the Jewish theatre staged by Alexis Granovsky in Yiddish. The authors of the article emphasize that “spiritually close Jews” were an important component of Yu. Shevelov’s existential project, the implementation of which provided for the creation of modern Ukrainian culture as a basis for establishing historical justice – Ukraine’s understanding of its independent development without Russian pressure. The existential nature of cultural communication with “his Jews” is underlined by the fact that Yu. Shevelov was not a supporter of their linguistic and cultural assimilation that was consistently implemented by the governments in tsarist Russia and the Soviet Union.

Ecocritical Study of the Chornobyl Disaster (Based on Materials of Contemporary Literature of Fact)

Nataliia Rozinkevych — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0200

The effects of humankind during the Capitalocene period caused planetary changes that resulted in the devastation and destruction of the Earth. The nuclear tragedy at the Chornobyl NPP on April 26, 1986, should serve as a constant reminder to society as it provided an example of dysfunctional totalitarian management.
The topic of Chornobyl has become socially tiresome in recent years due to the trivialization of this large-scale anthropogenic, ecological, economic, and humanitarian disaster. The image of Ukraine as a hazard area has gradually been replaced in world consciousness. When Russia, the aggressor country, started to intimidate the world with nuclear and thermonuclear weapons and to take the nuclear power plants in Ukraine under fire, the danger of radioactive materials came up once again. Phosphorous ammunition used in Ukraine in 2022 demonstrates that the terrorist state is capable of anything. Scientists also relate to earthquake motions that occurred in Turkey in February 2023 and Japan in January 2024, with the displacement of continental plates of the Earth’s crust resulting from missile attacks at the surface of the Earth.
In the 21st century, there was a need to reconsider and refresh memories as well as to reread the works under a new perspective to draw attention to crimes against the safety of humanity and the environment, as well as to popularize, preserve and pass historical knowledge to future generations to protect them from traumatic experiences and self-destruction.
The article aims to look at the postcolonial environment in contemporary literature of fact through the spectacle of ecocritical discourse via reading the works on the Chornobyl disaster. The objects of the study are Galia Ackerman’s work “Crossing Chornobyl”, the documentary and publicist chapter “Chornobyl Scenario” from the novel “Non-format Journalism” by Hryhorii Krymchuk, Volodymyr Shovkoshytnyi’s semidocumentary short story “Chornobyl: I Saw It”, the chapter “Elon Musk, “Tesla”, and Nuclear Power Engineering” from Maks Kidruk’s popular scientific book “Theory of Improbability”, Oleksii Radynskyi’s literary report “Chornobyl Is Ukraine”, and Markiian Kamysh’s travelogue “Stalking the Atomic City”.
Study methods include principles of science, objectivity, and source verification. General scientific and special scientific research methods used in the study are a descriptive method for synthesizing and systematizing selected material; comparative and typological methods involving the elements of cultural, comparative, and narrative studies to compare the ways various authors have covered the Chornobyl topic; an ecocritical method that has made it possible to apply naturecentric approach to conceptualizing interaction between a human and nature to develop eco-conscious society; a postcolonial method aimed at conceptualizing the consequences of colonial rule via non-fiction text.

Handwritten Text Recognition of Ukrainian Manuscripts in the 21st Century: Possibilities, Challenges, and the Future of the First Generic AI-based Model

Aleksej Tikhonov, Achim Rabus — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0200

This article reports on developing and evaluating a generic Handwritten Text Recognition (HTR) model created for the automatic computer-assisted transcription of Ukrainian handwriting publicly available via the HTR platform Transkribus. The model’s training process encompasses diverse datasets, including historical manuscripts by renowned poets Taras Shevchenko and Lesya Ukrainka, along with private correspondence used for the General Regionally Annotated Corpus of Ukrainian (GRAC) and a diary procured at the Holodomor Museum collection. We evaluate the model’s performance by comparing its theoretical accuracy, with a character error rate (CER) of 4.2%, against its practical efficacy when augmented with an AI-based language model for Ukrainian and a Large Language Model. The model is versatile and functional and can thus be applied for mass-digitization of Ukrainian cultural heritage. In our outlook section, we identify possibilities for further improving the model.

Immanuel Kant in Philosophical Culture of Ukraine

Maryna Tkachuk — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0200