Abstract
Object of the article: apophatics as a cultural phenomenon. Subject of the article: a method of creating an apophatic reality in a literary work, the apophatic side of the phenomenon of sleep is studied. Material of the article: an early little-known story by Alexander Grin “Struggle with Death” (1918). Research methodology: a holistic analysis of a literary text, which is achieved through the ontohermeneutic method using the semantic research method. Research results: analysis of Grin’s early story, identification of its ontological meaning, ethos of illness, death, sleep allows raising an issue of apophatics of a literary work. The appeal to anthroposophical reflections on the axiological status of sleep by the German philosopher Rudolf Steiner, whose ideas were shared by the representatives of the Silver Age, especially Maximilian Voloshin, Grin’s closest friend, is also productive, since the anthroposophist highlights the apophatic side of sleep associated with day and night human consciousness. The ethos in the article is understood within the framework of Heidegger’s research, which makes it possible to deepen the cultural-philosophical ideas about the phenomenon of death, disease and sleep in the global art culture.
Highlights
Apophatics, an ancient concept rooted in antiquity, is spreading into all research paradigms
The experience of Russian verbal culture can be productive in this respect, and this article considers the apophatics of artistic culture, which is the broadest object of research, as well as the apophatic nature of sleep
Attention should be paid to the very beginning of the story, which is given in an apophatic way: “– I am thinking about unfinished business, – said Lorkh to the doctor. – Yes: why aren’t you leaving? – Such a kind question, – Dieman replied slowly, looking around intently. – The bed must be put to the window
Summary
Apophatics, an ancient concept rooted in antiquity, is spreading into all research paradigms. Apophaticism is no longer exclusively related to theology and philosophy. It is understood that the apophatic way of knowing the Divine is associated with the denial of all predicates as false or partially false. God cannot be precisely defined in apophatic theology. The apophatic method can bring the researcher closer to other Absolutes of culture, which are transcendental in nature. Death is a priori incomprehensible; in Russian humanitaristics, the apophatics of death is covered in Varava’s works (Varava, 2013). Disease has the qualities of apophaticity, since the morbial state precedes death. Sleep can be considered in the same way, its nature is currently of interest to cultural researchers
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