Sociological ideas of Mykyta Shapoval: historical representation

Abstract

In recent years, Ukrainian scholars have increasingly turned to rethink our history. From oblivion emerge long-forgotten names, those of scientists who in one way or another have influenced the development of national and world science. However, due to the Soviet doctrine, the achievements of these scientists had long been out of the Ukrainian community's attention. One of the striking examples is the legacy of Mykyta Shapoval, which is still poorly researched, but in the conditions of today, it requires an in-depth study. After all, the issue of Ukraine's revival is relevant today, so the return of scientific ideas, of those scientists who spoke about national state formation, remains an important component in choosing the right model of nation-building. The main purpose of the article is to outline the historical representation of the sociological ideas of Nikita Shapoval regarding the role of scientific knowledge, the classification of sciences and the place of sociology among them, basic sociological categories (personality, society, state), as well as to outline perspective directions of the study of its sociological heritage. Based on the materials worked out by M. Shapoval, it was found out that at the initial stage of his creative and public-political activity he was a supporter of Nietzschean While in emigration during 1919–1932, M. Shapoval laid a solid foundation for sociological research in Prague, wherein 1924 he opened the Ukrainian Institute of Social Studies (Ukrainian Sociological Institute). Here he publishes the first textbook of national sociology "General Sociology", as well as the monograph "System of Social Sciences and Sociography (Ethnology)". The authors analyze M. Shapoval’s ideas regarding the classification of sciences, the place of sociology in it and its subject field. They also identify the main scientific approaches that he proposed to explain social phenomena and processes.