Діяльність «артільного батька» Миколи Левитського та інтелігенція його епохи в історико-методологічному аспекті (друга половина ХІХ – перші десятиліття ХХ ст.)

Abstract

Introduction. The activity of the world-famous cooperative activist Mykola Levytskyi (1859-1936) is reflected in a wide range of scientific works. However, the problem of the relationship between his qualities and activities with the socio-cultural features of the intellectual environment of his epoch was not raised. The presented article is devoted to the latter. Purpose of the article isto show the activities of a prominent representative of the intellectual elite of the second half of the XIXth – first decades of the XXth century. Mykola Levytskyi in relation to the socio-cultural characteristics of the intellectual society of his epoch, as well as the principles of interpretation of its worldview and activities. Results. Mykola Levitsky distinguished himself by a huge amount of public and cooperative work. In particular, from 1894 to 1905 he organized more than 700 agricultural, industrial and labor artels. He was actively involved in educational work, development of the theory‘sissues and practice of cooperation and cooperative legislation. In the early XXth century participated in the creation of national Ukrainian cooperative centers, in the 1920’s held senior positions in all-Ukrainian cooperative unions. He enjoyed great authority among various circles of the public in Ukraine and abroad. Levytskyi was noted for his high devotion and sacrifice in the service of public interests and at the same time neglect of personal material problems. This way of life was characteristic of the intellectual society of his epoch, which was subject to the ideals of caring for people and building a just society. Levytskyi was a prominent representative of this galaxy of intellectual society. He was involved in all the leading intellectual currents of his epoch: populism, marxism, socialism and cooperation and national revival, was their bearer and active implementer of their programs. At the same time he proved to be an extremely effective and practical person, with concrete positive results of activity. The latter served his information and led to high authority. Originality. The figure of Mykola Levytskyi is considered in the context of cultural and ideological features of intellectual society, the connection of his activity with the defining spiritual tendencies of his epoch is established. Approaches to the scientific knowledge of the socially active intellectual society of the second half of the XIXth – first decades of the XXth century are developed. Conclusion. The activity and worldview of the “artel father” Mykola Levytskyi were the product of relevant cultural and ideologicaltrends among the intellectual society. The sphere of realization of these tendencies was broad social strata. The intellectual society showed readiness to sacrificially serve the people’s interests and ideas of the common good, and at the same time involved the people in global revolutionary projects of social transformation. These characteristics were the social norm of a long epoch, and typical for the intellectual society of various ideological currents. In the process of studying social active intellectual society of the second half of the XIXth – first decades of the XXth century one should refrain from extrapolating the current state of the intellectual society to the historical past, and keep in mind that the service of public interests and participation in global plans for the restructuring of society – the characteristics of intellectual society of that period.