The Journal of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. Series "Theory of Culture and Philosophy of Science"

PHILOSOPHY OF MODERN SOCIETY IN THE CONTEXT OF DIGITALIZATION AND A NEW HOLOGRAPHIC APPROACH TO THE EVOLUTION OF CIVILIZATION

2026-01-23T16:12:32+00:00

A new approach to the digitalization of modern society is proposed, the scientific proposal of applying new holographic approaches that have recently become widespread in cosmology, philosophy of science, information theories and consciousness studies seem relevant. The purpose of the study is to analyze digitalization as a multicomponent phenomenon, the complexity of which requires several new scientific metaphors, for example, the metaphors of emergence and holographic design. Methods: analytical method, synergistic and holographic principle, holistic approach to society, socio-philosophical analysis, theories of information and information society. Scientific novelty. Digital transformation not only changes technical infrastructures, but also radically records the anthropological, sociocultural and ontological foundations of human existence. Based on modern works on the philosophy of digitalization and digital ethics (C. Burr, L. Floridi, A. Grunwald, E.O. Pedersen), the authors compare them with holographic models of the Universe, dark energy and consciousness (D. Bohm, V.J.A.J. Førde, S. Ghaffari, W.B. Miller Jr, A.V. Melkikh, R. Valverde). Based on this, the thesis is substantiated that the digital society can be interpreted as a specific «holographic layer» of civilizational development, where information structures and platforms play the role of local «screens» of deeper quantum-informational configurations of reality. It is shown that civilizational development appears as a multi-level encoding and decoding of information. Conclusions. The concept of a holographic digital civilization is proposed, within which: digitalization is considered as a process of multi-level design of information structures; The holographic principle acts as an ontological metaphor and at the same time a scientific model for describing the emergence of the Universe and social systems; there is a need for a new holistic ethics – the ethics of the digital age, which is understood as a «holographic ethics of responsibility», where local decisions should become projections of global information changes. On this basis, the understanding of freedom, subjectivity and the limits of algorithmic control is clarified, and the prospects for a transdisciplinary dialogue between the philosophy of technology, the philosophy of science, information theory and cognitive science are outlined.

EXISTENTIAL EXPERIENCE IN THE CONTEXT OF WESTERN AND EASTERN PARADIGMS OF PHILOSOPHIZING

2026-01-23T16:20:00+00:00

The article is devoted to the problem of the phenomenology of existential experience in the context of the paradigms of Western and Eastern philosophy. Earlier we talked about five so-called paradigms of philosophizing: Indian, Chinese, Ancient, Abrahamic, Modern or Scientist.

Indian philosophy is based on traditional Indian cultural ideas about reincarnation, samsara, and liberation from the web of samsara. The Chinese paradigm is based on an organismic worldview: the universe is perceived as a single organism, where each person is something like an organ within this organism and, like an organ in an ordinary organism, it has its own place and function (its own Tao). The Ancient paradigm is the most problematic, since all we have today are texts that can sometimes be interpreted in completely different ways; we suggest, following P. Hadot, that it can be interpreted as a practical discipline for finding happiness in a world hostile to man. The Abrahamic paradigm comes from the ideas of monotheism, creationism and revelationism. Modern scientific philosophy proceeds from the ideas about reality that natural sciences provide. All the various directions of modern philosophy develop in one way or another in the context of a worldview based on natural sciences. Hence such dissimilar directions of modern philosophy as positivism, which directly follows natural (positive) sciences, and existentialism, which deals with questions of human existence in the face of a world indifferent to all human ideas and values.

It is shown that existentialism, a direction that is in closely related to phenomenology, is a natural manifestation of the scientific paradigm, but at the same time, existential experience in one form or another has been repeatedly highlighted within the framework of other paradigms, often acquiring much deeper coverage there.

METAMORPHOSES OF THE IDEA OF REINCARNATION: THEOSOPHICAL PARADIGMS AND CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATIONS

2026-01-26T13:19:06+00:00

This article explores the transformations of the idea of reincarnation and its anthropological significance in the context of Helena Blavatsky’s theosophical-philosophical legacy and contemporary humanities of the 20th–21st centuries. Reincarnation is examined as a universal law of spiritual evolution that transcends the boundaries of religious-mystical doctrine and assumes the status of an integrative principle uniting philosophy, science, and culture. It is interpreted not as a matter of belief, but as a metaphysical law of the universe, intrinsically linked to the concepts of karma, cosmic order, and the continuous development of consciousness.

The study demonstrates that, through Blavatsky’s legacy, the idea of reincarnation gained wide currency in global culture from the 19th century to the present. It further reveals how spiritual concepts of universal scope have informed research in psychology (C. G. Jung’s archetypes, therapeutic practices of hypnotic regression), anthropology (life and cultural cycles, universal mythologemes), cultural studies (the symbolism of immortality and cyclicality), as well as medical and psychotherapeutic practices (overcoming the fear of death, integrating traumatic experience, etc.).

The article broadens the interpretive framework of eternal life through the concept of reincarnation, tracing its transformations in the modern era: from philosophical and religious debates to its incorporation into mass culture, literature, and art. It argues that this concept fulfills both therapeutic and worldview functions, fostering meaningful life orientations, aiding in the resolution of existential crises, and facilitating the search for spiritual unity within a globalized society.

Ultimately, the article substantiates the claim that Blavatsky’s philosophical heritage opens the way for a new universal humanistic mode of thinking that integrates Eastern and Western traditions, transcends stereotypes and interfaith as well as intercultural conflicts, and lays the foundation for the emergence of a unified spiritual paradigm of the future.

GIFT AND EXCHANGE: BETWEEN ANTHROPOLOGY, SOCIAL THEORY, AND THE PHILOSOPHY OF RECOGNITION

2026-01-23T16:21:23+00:00

The article explores the phenomenon of the gift as a key mechanism of social, economic, and cultural interactions in society. The author examines how the concept of the gift is formed within cultural anthropology, subsequently influencing sociology and philosophy. Drawing on the classical works of Mauss, Malinowski, and Lévi-Strauss, the article shows how the foundations for understanding the gift were laid, analyzing their critiques and followers. Special attention is given to the Kula and Potlatch rituals, which demonstrate the social function of the gift in establishing hierarchy, mutual respect, and authority; the concept of the "spirit of the gift" (hau), obligations of reciprocity, and the moral dimension of exchange inherent in these rituals are analyzed. The study shows that the significance of the gift goes beyond economic transactions, representing an alternative form of exchange that includes symbolic and spiritual values, as it shapes systems of authority, social ties, community stability, and political and ethical practices. The article also analyzes how the topic of the gift, introduced by cultural anthropology, is reflected in sociology. Contemporary interpretations of the gift by Liebersohn, Pyyhtinen, Sansi, and Eisenstein are also examined.

A particular focus is placed on Marcel Hénaff’s systematization of perspectives on the gift, in which he integrates various anthropological, sociological, and philosophical approaches. Hénaff’s analysis emphasizes that the primary social consequence of the gift is recognition of another person, mutual affirmation of their dignity and status, making the gift a key category for analyzing social reciprocity, moral order, and cultural solidarity. The political and symbolic dimensions of the gift, its role in shaping social structures, public relations, and cultural practices are considered. The author demonstrates that the gift is a complex social act that combines moral obligation, symbolic communication, and mutual recognition, forming the foundation of social ties and providing an alternative to the utilitarian logic of the market.

DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MYTH IN GERMAN CLASSICAL STUDIES (LATE 18TH – EARLY 19TH CENTURY)

2026-01-23T16:35:30+00:00

The article provides a philosophical review of the mythological concepts of German antiquarians, in particular, G F. Creuzer, K. O. Müller, J. H. Voss and other mythological scholars of the late 18th - early 19th centuries, with an emphasis on their contribution to the formation of European mythological thought and the methodology of the science of myth in the 19th century. The analytical basis consists primarily in a direct analysis of the primary sources of the mentioned authors, as well as representatives of the romantic school, who are a reflection of the romantic worldview, in the light of which myth appears as a principle of interpreting culture, symbolism, as the basis of cultural genesis (with the desire to reveal the "prehistoric beginning" of culture and the common sources of myth). In this vein, Creuzer formulates the theory of the symbol as an "embodied idea" and tries to reconstruct myth as a primary symbolic language that passes between cultures in artifacts. Müller and Voss oppose this from different perspectives: the first defends the localism of myths and the autochthonous nature of Greek mythology as evidence of historical and national development, rejecting unambiguous similarities with the East; the other openly criticizes Creuzer's symbolism, advocating a rational-historical approach, denying the very possibility of transferring myths between cultures.

The affinities and differences between the concepts of myth as a holistic cultural phenomenon are analyzed: for Creuzer, myth is a symbolic form of the wisdom of humanity, which requires decoding through the images and materials of ancient artifacts; for Müller, it is the local mythology of peoples, which reveals early forms of culture and migration histories; for Voss, it is an anti-symbolic criticism of romanticism and the rejection of the union of myth and symbol in a single theory. Hegel acts as a critic of the romantic approach, but recognizes the value of myth as a stage of development of the spirit, necessary for further cognition.

The article emphasizes that there are contradictions between the two approaches - philosophical-romantic and historical-scientific, which determined the directions of early mythography and the formation of methodological criteria for the study of ancient mythology in European science; it is argued that the discussions between Müller, Kreutzer and Voss, as well as Hegel's positions, became decisive for the formation of mythology as a scientific discipline: they outlined the boundaries between symbolism and historical-critical analysis, identified two main schools - romantic-philosophical and concrete-scientific - and influenced the further evolution of philology, interpretative models of myth and, in general, the orientation of European mythological thought in the 19th century. Such well-founded conclusions actualize the significance of the Ukrainian research discourse on German classical studies and its influence on the world mythological tradition, emphasizing the need for further deepening the study of the heritage of the aforementioned authors and their contemporaries in order to understand modern methodology in the study of mythology and intercultural interactions in European philosophy.

HUMAN, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE EXTIMACY OF THE UNCONSCIOUS

2026-01-23T16:24:33+00:00

The The article examines the nature of the unconscious within the context of transforming relations between humans and technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI). Special attention is devoted to the development of AI as a factor of subject decentration and as a condition for reconsidering the philosophical and ideological foundations of anthropocentrism. The study addresses radical changes in the sphere of communication, which becomes networked, distributed, and post-anthropic. The theoretical and methodological framework combines psychoanalytic, deconstructive and post-anthropological approaches, which make it possible to expand the understanding of the cognitive domain while also revealing the dimension of the unconscious. The article argues that technological tools such as large language models open access to a collective / extimate unconscious, expanding the space of expression while simultaneously removing individual responsibility for the generated meanings. Such technological mediation intensifies both the decentration and the (self-)alienation of the human, increasingly dispersed among others within digital flows. AI is interpreted as a fetishistic mechanism operating at the boundary between desire and the nihilistic devaluation of the (Other): technology is perceived as a useful instrument insofar as it satisfies specific desires and expectations, but is devalued once it fails to do so. The apocalyptic discourse surrounding AI uncovers the repressed layer of the social unconscious, indicating the erosion of the symbolic order. In this regard, the classical question “What can I know?”, interpreted through a Lacanian perspective, primarily reveals the structure of the unconscious in the age of AI and post-anthropic thinking. AI is thus understood not only as a instrument created by instrumental reason but also as a mechanism for exposing an unconscious that is no longer localized within the individual subject and therefore requires new methods of analysis – including philosophical ones. Consequently, the article outlines the possibility of rethinking the foundations of philosophy beyond traditional anthropocentrism, considering the emergence of a new (machinic) Other.

THE PHENOMENON OF THE UNCANNY AS AN INVERSION OF THE RENAISSANCE IDEAL OF THE BODY

2026-01-23T16:25:05+00:00

The article examines the phenomenon of the uncanny as an inversion of the Renaissance ideal of the body, tracing the transformation of cultural representations of the human body from the Renaissance to the twenty-first century. The article emphasizes that the Renaissance paradigm regarded the body as a symbol of harmony, proportion, and divine perfection, combining physical beauty with spiritual order. In contemporary art, particularly in the body-horror genre, the body emerges as a space of instability, fragmentation, and existential threat, where deformation, anomaly, and the destruction of integrity become key aesthetic and philosophical categories.

The author employs historical-cultural, comparative, and phenomenological approaches to analyze the dynamics of changing perceptions of the body. Central to the theoretical understanding of the uncanny are Freud’s concept of the Unheimlich and Kristeva’s concept of the abject, which illuminate the psychological, socio-cultural, and bodily mechanisms of fear, disgust, and the violation of the boundaries of the self. An analytical model of bodily transformation is proposed, structured around three stages: destabilization of form, fragmentation and anomaly, and existential ruination, demonstrating the transition from the harmonious Renaissance body to its contemporary inversion.

It is shown that the uncanny does not negate the Renaissance ideal but functions as its mirror image, opening new perspectives for the philosophical, cultural, and aesthetic interpretation of the human body. The inversion of bodily representation in contemporary art reflects a shift in cultural paradigms: the body ceases to be a symbol of order and becomes a space of material and existential vulnerability.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE CONTENT OF THE CONCEPT OF LOGIC IN THE PHILOSOPHICAL HERITAGE OF ARISTOTLE, L. EULER, P. LODIUS, B. RUSSELL

2026-01-23T16:37:27+00:00

The purpose of the article is to carry out a comparative analysis of the content of the concepts of logic, presented in the philosophical heritage of Aristotle as the founder of classical formal logic, Leonard Euler as an outstanding representative of the Enlightenment era, thanks to which the possibility of visualizing logical relationships between concepts appeared, Petro Lodiy, an outstanding Ukrainian philosopher-logician, who systematized the logical knowledge of his time, and Bertrand Russell - mathematician, philosopher, publicist, founder of the modern philosophy of logical analysis. The relevance of the article is due to the need to understand the historical evolution and meaningful content of the key concepts of logic, which is the foundation of rational cognition. Analysis of the heritage of outstanding thinkers who worked in different eras and represented different scientific paradigms allows us to identify both universal and specific features of the development of logical thought. The article uses historical-philosophical, comparative and systemic methods of analysis. The consideration of Aristotle focuses on his «Organon», where logic appears as a theory of proof and a tool for knowing the real. His contribution to the development of syllogistic and the classification of judgments is analyzed. The work of L. Euler is considered through the prism of «Euler's Ring» (diagrams), which became a powerful tool in visualizing the scope of concepts and the relationships between them, which contributed to greater clarity of logical operations, especially in the context of relationships between classes. The legacy of P. Lodia, in particular his "Logical Guidelines", is analyzed as an attempt to systematize and adapt European logical traditions to the needs of academic education in Ukraine at the beginning of the 19th century. B. Russell presented his own philosophical concept, the theory of definite descriptions, which consists in denying the existence of concepts-subjects. He rejects the ontological status of abstract entities and concepts are the result of long-term and thorough descriptions (descriptions) of things, phenomena, and events.

The scientific novelty of the article lies in the identification of common methodological approaches and significant differences in the interpretation of logical concepts. In particular, it is established how the formal, verbally-oriented approach of Aristotle was transformed into a visual-mathematical one in L. Euler, was systematized in a didactic form by P. Lodius and was criticized by B. Russell for a transcendental approach to determining the essence of concepts. The practical significance of the work lies in the possibility of using its results in teaching courses in logic, history of philosophy and methodology of science.

PHILOSOPHY OF GEOPOLITICS: MYTHS AND MANIPULATIONS

2026-01-23T16:26:29+00:00

This article explores the phenomenon of geopolitical myth as a powerful tool for influencing mass consciousness in the context of modern hybrid conflicts. The author analyzes how mythological narratives transform perceptions of space, identity, and history, serving as a means of legitimizing political decisions, violence, and war. Using the case of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the article examines how myths of "anti-fascist struggle", "protection of Russian-speaking populations", or "sacred unity" are used to justify aggression, mobilize society, and symbolically occupy the information space. Emphasis is placed on the fact that geopolitical myth is not an obsolete phenomenon — on the contrary, in the digital age, it is renewed and proliferates through media, education, and culture. The article analyzes mechanisms of mythological manipulation, institutional reproduction of myth, and its role in shaping national identity. It argues that geopolitical myth should be considered not only as propaganda but as a deep symbolic code that influences a society’s capacity for critical thinking. The research is based on an interdisciplinary methodology combining philosophical-anthropological analysis, critical geopolitics, and cultural studies. Special attention is given to the Ukrainian context — both as a target of external symbolic pressure and as a site of resistance and the construction of an alternative postcolonial identity. The article concludes by calling for the deconstruction of geopolitical myths and the creation of a public space capable of sustaining plurality, reflection, and resilience against manipulatio.

RETURN TO FORMER PLACES – FORGOTTEN SHADOWS OF THE PAST (PHILOSOPHY OF RETURN BASED ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE WORKS OF THE CZECH POET F. GRUBIN)

2026-01-23T16:26:57+00:00

The article is not devoted to philosophical theories directly, although the concepts of F. Nietzsche, E. Husserl, his student Jan Patočka, the founder of Czech phenomenology are cited and considered, but to the consideration of the humanitarian problem through the prism of significant literary works (and later films based on these works) of the Czech poet František Grubin (1910-1971).

The author of the article devoted the study to the topic of return - a category of social, psychological, philosophical. Return, Not in a narrow geographical sense from point A to point B, although the return to the "former places" - home is considered, but also in the conscious and subconscious to oneself. The author believes that a person needs, especially at the crossroads of eras, to shovel layers of time and life surroundings, fragments of his life, record segments and stations of events, making final conclusions. The past in order to see the present and think about the future.

The novelty of the study is that the theme of Returning Home and in general to "former places" and events is not so extensive and is of interest. Another feature of the article is that the markers and subjects of the study are mainly two works (a poem and a short story) not by a "pure" philosopher, but by a writer, a poet, and it is conducted through the lenses of old cinema (the second half of the 20th century) by the famous Czech director O. Vavra.

Many works by František Grubin set a philosophical tone and problem in Time and Space, these two categories are not only the diocese of physics, but also of philosophy. The possibilities of cinema in matters of contemplation and comprehension are enormous, and art cinema, in particular "chamber" cinema, are even greater. The shadows of a forgotten movie flicker.

The text of the poem in which a mature person accidentally stumbles upon a not accidental episode from his life, which shifts his consciousness a quarter of a century ago and shakes his entire subsequent life from first love, loss, death and to stuporful despair, is perceived by the reader with his body and soul. In the cinema, with a tragic addition, this "action" can also be seen and heard. In the article, these two films become the subject of retrospective analysis.

The author considers the theme of Return and Lost Time, which smoothly transitions from the second half of the 20th century into the 21st century, to be relevant.