Dialectical Approach Research Articles

Economic Assessment of the Performance of Metal Trading Enterprises

Aim. The presented study aims to improve the theoretical and methodological approach to assessment and to develop practical recommendations for improving the performance of metal trading enterprises.Tasks. Based on a study of the essence of the concept of “performance” and assessment models, the authors develop methodological provisions for assessing the performance of enterprises; investigate industry-specific features and factors affecting the performance level of metal trading enterprises; develop a comprehensive methodology for assessing the performance level of enterprises in the metal trading industry; test the developed methodology on metal trading enterprises in the Republic of Crimea; identify potential directions for improving the performance of the analyzed group of enterprises.Methods. This study uses a wide range of general scientific methods: induction and deduction, abstraction, analysis and synthesis, modeling, systematization of theoretical and practical material. Analytical, graphical, and statistical methods and the method of comparative economic analysis are applied. The research methodology is based on the key provisions of the theory and practice of financial and economic analysis of enterprise activity.Results. The problem of ensuring the performance of an enterprise essentially comes down to increasing economic results per cost unit. At the same time, among the existing assessment models, the management model provides the most comprehensive accounting of various aspects of operation. The main aspects for assessing the performance of enterprises include the application of a dialectical approach, compliance with certain principles, and the sequence of implemented actions. The conducted analysis of factors affecting the performance level of metal trading enterprises reveals the most negative factors: decreasing purchasing power, increasing tax burden, non-market competition, and underdeveloped industrial infrastructure. This study presents a comprehensive methodology for assessing the performance level of metal trading enterprises, the idea of which goes back to the “performance pyramid” model for analyzing and evaluating operating results developed by K. McNair and is supplemented with a system of key indicators. The proposed methodology is tested on actual enterprises in the Republic of Crimea, and recommendations for increasing the achieved level of performance are formulated.Conclusions. The developed assessment methodology is based on the idea of performance as a pyramid, the volume of which reflects the level of performance; the sides of the base are key indicators showing the state of various aspects of the enterprise’s operation; the base area is the current potential of the enterprise formed by its activities; the pyramid’s height is the position of the enterprise in the market. The integrated index calculated based on the methodology makes it possible to assess the current performance level of the enterprise in accordance with the conventional assessment scale and to develop a list of the most significant measures for improving it.

Foundations of Communication/Media/Digital (In)justice

ABSTRACT The task of this article is to outline foundations of a Marxist-humanist approach to communication justice, media justice, and digital justice. A dialectical approach to justice is outlined that differs from idealist monism, dualism, and pluralism. It conceives of injustice as alienation and inhumanity and justice as humanism. This approach is applied to communication, media, and the digital. The article outlines concepts and dimensions of (in)justice in general, communication (in)justice, media (in)justice, and digital (in)justice.

STEM and STEAM Education in Russian Education: Conceptual Framework

The paper examines the STEM approach as one of the revolutionary tools for transforming education. This paper discloses the content of the concept of “STEAM-education”, substantiates its importance and prerequisites for its appearance. The author elucidates a comparative analytical review of trends and prospects for the development of STEAM education in the Russian Federation. In this paper, the authors want to touch upon a comprehensive theoretical and methodological study conducted on the declared problem to identify the problem of the formation and development of the STEAM approach in the education system in the Russian Federation at all levels: general education, vocational education, and additional education. The object of this study was STEM education. The subject of this research was the STEM approach and STEM technologies in the system of general education, vocational education, and additional education. The methodological foundation of the study was the general scientific propositions on the holistic, systemic, and dialectical approaches to research, which made it possible to assess the totality of interrelated and interacting elements that form a certain integrity. The use of these approaches provided a comprehensive analysis and formulation of the research problem and determined the strategy for its study. The analysis of the current state of STEM and STEAM education in higher education in the Russian Federation suggests that it is necessary to stimulate the development of information and communication technologies in the country’s education system in general, as well as to develop comprehensive programs for adapting STEM and STEAM approaches among the subjects of educational relations. In the context of modern global risks and challenges, the educational trajectory of development in Russia should be conceptually consistent with the new strategy in the field of natural science education adopted in the United States, “The Path to Success: American Strategy for STEM Education”. Experts believe that through the practical implementation of STEM and STEAM technologies, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the quality of training for the purposes of the modern digital economic sphere. In this regard, the primary competences obtained in the higher education system in the areas of STEM and STEAM training should be cognitive, personal, and interpersonal competences, expressed in digital literacy, computational thinking, creativity, open mind, soft skills, and others. The concept of STEAM education in the system of higher professional education in Russia will ensure the transformation of ideas about scientific knowledge and build an innovative development process through the formation of skills in the field of exact sciences, linguistics, engineering, art, etc.

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES OF CRYPTOCURRENCY (ON THE EXAMPLE OF BITCOIN)

The article analyzes the changes taking place in the investment market due to the emergence of innovative blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies, which are increasingly used as alternative investments in the management of a securities portfolio, along with traditional types of financial assets, such as money, bonds and shares. The methodological basis of the study is a dialectical approach that provides an understanding of the interdependence of technological changes and the rethinking of the role of fractional, decentralized, fluid assets with lower settlement risk, which are digital assets, in comparison with the traditional payment system in fiat currencies. The available current sample period of the cryptocurrency Index (CRIX) is too small to fully explore the investment opportunities of cryptocurrencies. In addition, the evaluation of cryptocurrencies is very different from the evaluation of traditional investment tools. There is also no clarity on the development of blockchain technology in the long term. At the same time, even today, the success of several cryptocurrencies (in particular, bitcoin) exerts competitive pressure on transaction methods from existing financial institutions [1], which determines the need for forecasting and analyzing price movements in the cryptocurrency markets. The article offers a sequence of actions for evaluating the profitability of investments on the example of bitcoin.

Peculiarities of the matter of philosophy in the works of P. I. Linitsky

The subject of this research is the doctrine of the representative of Kiev Theological Academy, prominent “Orthodox rationalist” Peter Ivanovich Linitsky on the matter of philosophy. Based on the analysis of his separate work, the conclusions are made on the essence of philosophy, its matter, tasks and role in life of the society. Attention is given to determination by the Russian scholars of universality of the nature of philosophy, its special place among other sciences. The philosopher sees the central objective of science in the development of general worldview, believing that this essential task stems from the nature of human mind, which seeks uniformity in cognition, as well as incorporation of the particular with the general. The article employs the spiritual-culturological approach in combination with dialectical approach, as well as  methods of analysis, synthesis, comparison and generalization. This article is first to describe and analyze the philosophical-theistic views of the Professor of Kiev Theological Academy Peter Ivanovich Linitsky on the matter of philosophy and its specificity as a science. The author determines the attempt of incorporating the philosophy and religion into a close union, which ensures the integrity and completeness of human cognition.

Investing in the Development of Renewable Energy Sources

The purpose of the article is to highlight modern approaches to enhancing investment in the development of renewable energy sources.On the basis of monographic and qualimetric methods, system analysis and a dialectical approach, modern trends in investment in renewable energy in Ukraine and the world have been investigated, the most promising and optimal methods and forms of investment financing have been identified and systematized.It is emphasized that Ukraine entered the TOP-20 of the world rating of states in terms of the volume of investments in renewable energy sources, and the growth of investment flows into the Ukrainian energy sector remains relatively dynamic. However, it turned out that the issue of reviving investment activity remains relevant.The article shows that an increase in the inflow of investments is possible due to the activation of all available forms and methods of financing them. To do this, it is advisable to join international programs of grant, technical and other special assistance, use mechanisms of budgetary state and municipal assistance, develop energy service companies, create special loan products in the energy sector, issue green bonds and activate self-financing.The results of the study on enhancing investments in the development of renewable energy sources can be used to improve investment policy in the energy sector at the level of state and municipal authorities, business entities, individual and institutional investors.According to the results of the study, the article concludes that in order to ensure the development of renewable energy sources, it is necessary to mobilize investment resources from all available sources, develop various forms and methods of financing investments, and also contribute in every possible way to stabilize the working conditions of investors in the energy sector, to strengthen their motivation to invest in development. renewable energy sources. JEL classіfіcatіon: Q42, O16

Strategic Planning and Economic Assessment of Development of Intermodal Transport Infrastructure

The authors set the goals: to assess the socio-economic importance of construction of intermodal transport infrastructure in the Russian Federation in modern conditions, to analyse the degree of development of issues of assessing the economic efficiency of intermodal aspects. To achieve these objectives, the content of modern strategic documents (such as the Comprehensive Plan for Modernization and Expansion o f Trunk Infrastructure, the Long-term Development Program of JSC Russian Railways until 2025, the Spatial Development Strategy of the Russian Federation, etc.), as well as the dynamics of container traffic volumes and results in construction of new and modernization of existing intermodal transport infrastructure were analysed. Based on this, a conclusion was made about relevance, importance, and prospects of development of intermodal transport infrastructure for both passenger and freight transportation.The degree of elaboration of issues of assessing the economic efficiency of intermodal aspects is analysed, while the historical retrospective of evolution of methods for its assessment within the framework of state or sectoral methodological guidelines adopted in the former USSR and the Russian Federation is considered. When analysing approaches to assessing economic efficiency inherent in a planned economic model, several effects from improvements associated with the development of transport infrastructure and organisation of operation are described. Against this background, the authors reveal the difference between former and new approaches, characteristic of the modern market economy.Through analysis and synthesis, conclusions were drawn for each part of the study. In the final part, using a dialectical approach, the results obtained are compared. Based on this, conclusions were made on the correlation between the importance of building an intermodal transport infrastructure, the degree of development of issues of assessing the economic efficiency of intermodal aspects and the prospects for development of this research area.

The evolution of economic systems: The dialectics of regress

Subject. We herein examine, sort out and integrate economic knowledge to analyze systemic contradictions, which constitute necessary and sufficient conditions for the evolution of macrosystems. In this research, we draw upon the cognitive potential of the dialectical systemic-historical approach. Objectives. We examine the gradual transformation of complex subjects with weak structure and the qualitative representation of the regress dialectics in terms of the logic of the evolution of economic systems. Methods. The study draws upon the cognitive potential of the dialectical method, the method of ascending from the abstract to the concrete, with some elements of the formation approach added, which helped definitely determine and capture systemic traits and principles of the regress dialectics of old systems, and their possible development trajectories. Results. The article sets forth systemic contradictions, qualities and traits of the regress dialectics, referring to the evolutionary phases of economic systems. To display the regress dialectics properly, we formulated respective principles for studying mutated forms, demonstrating the inevitability of their self-reproduction, and revealing the real, though concealed, substance. Conclusions. The article sorts out key conclusions. The findings may underlie the scientific basis for comprehending the evolution of complex subjects with weak structure and macrosystems.

The Political Economy of S. N. Bulgakov (to the 150th anniversary of his birth)

Introduction. 2021 marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of S. N. Bulgakov, an outstanding Russian scientist, economist and philosopher. The aim of the study is to assess the scientific contribution of S. N. Bulgakov to the development of Russian socio-economic thought. Materials and Methods. The work was written on the basis of the economic writings of S. N. Bulgakov, documents and materials of that era, as well as contemporary Russian and foreign publications. The article uses a dialectical approach, methods of induction and deduction, analysis and synthesis, structural-functional and program-targeted research methods. Results. The article reveals the scientific contribution of S. N. Bulgakov to the formulation and solution of urgent problems of the humanities and economics. The place and role of S. N. Bulgakov in the history of Russian and world science are revealed. The problems of the fundamental work of S. N. Bulgakov “Capitalism and Agriculture” (1900) and his other economic studies are considered in detail. An assessment is given to the ideas of the formation of a humanistic political economy, the doctrine of “Christian socialism”, the relationship between the principles of spiritual, moral and rationalistic approaches in the study of the national economy. The specific views of the scientist on the agrarian economy are shown: agrarian overpopulation, the nature of agricultural labor, the operation of the law of diminishing land fertility, the peculiarities of domestic agriculture, the nature of land rent. The idea of the legitimacy of the ideas and conclusions of S. N. Bulgakov about the nature and prospects of the development of capitalism in Russia, the spread of small and medium-sized forms of organization of agrarian production, understanding of the agrarian economy in the “broad” and “narrow” sense is substantiated. Discussion and Conclusion. A comparative analysis of the views of S. N. Bulgakov, N. I. Bukharin, K. Marx, V. I. Lenin, A. Smith, A. V. Chayanov on the general theoretical aspects of the development of agricultural production is carried out. Shown are modern studies devoted to the ideas of S. N. Bulgakov in the field of socio-economic analysis.

Dialectics of the Development of the Integrated Social Systems

Introduction. The paper analyzes the specificity of the dialectical development of the integrated social systems of such a personality and society. The presence of positive (natural) contradictions is recognized as a necessary and creative factor in social practice. Under the influence of this type of contradiction, the old, outdated forms of social structure (individual components of the social system) are denied and transformed to new, more perfect ones occurs as a result of their successful resolution. Methods. In the analysis, the author relied on a system-holistic approach, traditional general philosophical methods: induction and deduction, theoretical analysis and synthesis, extrapolation, etc. Discussion. The social system as an integrated unity goes through a number of stages from inception, formation and maturity to the transition to a qualitatively new state. Accordingly, the process of the emergence and development of dialectical contradictions also has several stages: from insignificant differences between opposite sides at the beginning of the emergence of the system to their strengthening and exacerbation. The nature of the contradictions depends on the specifics of the opposing sides, as well as on the conditions in which their interaction unfolds. The determining factor here, in the opinion of the author, is the positive (natural) direction of social opposition, under the influence of which the essence of the contradictions themselves is formed. Conclusion. According to the dialectical approach, the source of social development is the unity and struggle of opposites within the social system. However, the presence of opposite sides is a necessary but insufficient condition for development. They create the preconditions for it, but do not act as its driving force. Only a change in one opposition relative to another creates alternative tension, giving rise to a dialectical contradiction. Therefore, the antagonistic or non-antagonistic character of the latter is due to the positive (natural) or negative character of the social opposition itself.

SOCIO-CULTURAL TRANSFORMATION IN POST-SOVIET UKRAINE

The relevance of the research problem is that the understanding of socio-cultural transformation allows us to identify social processes that affect the functioning of post-Soviet Ukrainian society. The research subject is the social processes that determine the content and nature of socio-cultural transformation of post-Soviet Ukrainian society. The purpose of the article is to comprehend the impact of socio-cultural changes on the functioning of post-Soviet Ukrainian society. The methodology of the socio-cultural transformation research is based on the use of systematic, logical, historical, dialectical and socio-cultural approaches and methods. The results of scientific research. In post-Soviet Ukraine, the general context of socio-cultural change is due to the implementation of market reforms that have led to privatization, deindustrialization, mass marginalization, transition to a liberal state and depopulation. These processes have led to socio-cultural changes in the lives of Ukrainian citizens. There were important changes in the social sphere, the social structure of the population, the distribution of national wealth, which changed the direction of its movement from the dominance of social development to the predominance of social degradation. There was a change in the social matrix of society’s reproduction: there was a transition from the dominance of the middle classes’ culture to the spread of the culture of the poor, the main feature of which is the struggle for survival. The essence of the socio-cultural transformation of post-Soviet Ukrainian society is the transition from the absolutism of the state to the absolutism of the market, which means the transformation of everything possible into a commodity, and the dominance of commodity-money relations in all spheres of public life. This transition was accompanied by a change in the historical and cultural type of human personality, commercialization, deprofessionalization, as well as the primitivization of public administration. Changes in the culture’s state have complicated the reproduction of society as a whole. The Soviet way of life has been dismantled, and the failure of the social matrix indicates that a new way of life in post-Soviet Ukraine has not yet been formed, and therefore socio-cultural transformation must be aimed at its formation. The practical value of the results lies in substantiating the content of socio-cultural transformation in post-Soviet Ukraine and its impact on the functioning of society.

The great zeroing of the sustainability of the global social order through the destruction of socio-cultural identification

The aim of the article is to deepen the knowledge about ensuring the sustainability of the society’s development as a system. The main methods of work ground on dialectical, systemic and activity-based interdisciplinary approaches and include analysis, synthesis, observation, the method of decomposition, typologization, complementarity, comparative analysis, logical and historical analysis. The novelty of the article lies in the study of the correlation between the destruction of socio-cultural identification and the unprecedented modern process – the zeroing of the sustainability of the general planetary society initiated by the top of the world capitalist class. Conclusions. New philosophical knowledge about the mechanisms of ensuring the stability of society has been received, taking into account the new challenges initiated by the deepening crisis of capitalism. New scientifically based results have been received: the specific of identification as a process and state have been discovered; there the subject of the world society’s sustainable development at this stage of history and in the future have been defined - humanity as a whole, and the object - the environmental functioning and harmonious development of humanity on a planetary scale. The analysis of the super-rich elite’s strategies and socio-political processes in the United States shows the following: 1. The destruction of socio-cultural identification is an effective frontal tool for the destabilization of social life, for the sustainability of individual societies and states, and society in general. 2. General social imbalance and the diminution of social sustainability, in turn, feed the breakdown of socio-cultural identification. 3. The destruction of socio-cultural identification is one of the demonstrations that the great zeroing of the world social order’s sustainability has begun. The main social contradiction of modernity has been revealed and a forecast of its development has been given.

Conceptual Issues of the Goals of Punishment

Introduction: the article considers the goals of punishment, their essence, evolution, and modern legal and doctrinal interpretation; these issues are among fundamental problems of penitentiary science. Aim: to study the legal nature, social conditionality, and achievability of the goals of punishment so as to identify their compliance with the modern criminal policy of Russia. Methods: the research is based on a dialectical approach to the study of social processes and phenomena. We use methods such as analysis, synthesis, comparative legal, retrospective, formal legal, logical, comparative methods; all of them are commonly used by the sciences of criminal law and criminology. We also apply private scientific methods such as the legal-dogmatic method and the method of interpretation of legal norms. Results: we conclude that the time has come to change the conceptual foundations on which the institution of the goals of punishment is based. We believe it is necessary to prevent crimes by combining criminal responsibility with education and prevention. The level of recidivism, the empirical non-verifiability of reformation, and the scientific inconsistency of the phrase “restoration of social justice” (how can we restore what should be an unshakable axiological guideline?) indicate that Russian penology should radically revise the existing punitive paradigm. The paper substantiates the thesis that no goal of punishment in the current form is fully achievable. It is known that general prevention is based on fear. However, according to criminological studies, those who are inclined to commit crimes, as a rule, are not afraid of punishment (their contempt for punishment, law and society as a whole is obviously cultivated by the criminal subculture). And law-abiding people do not commit crimes because of their inner beliefs, upbringing and culture. Thus, general prevention as a goal is ineffective. Reformation and special prevention are too formalized and do not assume scientifically verifiable (at least, legally enacted) criteria for their achieving, that is, the state of reformation itself. With regard to the restoration of social justice, this formulation seems absurd due to a misunderstanding of justice as such. In our opinion, it is an objectively established axiological system, which essentially cannot be violated by a crime, but represents a standard and a measure of evaluation. It is for a reason that it is legally defined as a requirement for a court sentence in the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation. The goal of punishment ultimately consists in the punishment itself and in the implementation of its functions (punishment, retribution, public condemnation of the crime, protection of society from criminal encroachments). Conclusions: the present research has substantiated the necessity to carry out a legislative reform of the concept of the goals of punishment. We find this problem quite relevant, because the effectiveness of judicial and penal enforcement activities and the fate of meaningless financial costs for achieving unattainable goals depend on finding a solution to it. Keywords: punishment; goal; efficiency; restoration of social justice; crime prevention; general and special prevention; reformation of convicted persons; criminal policy; conceptual foundations

EUROPEAN COMMON AVIATION AREA: AVIATION LIBERALISATION AND UKRAINE’S ACCESSION PROCESS

The signing of the Common Aviation Area (CAA) Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union (EU) is one of the priority task on the agenda in Ukraine. The implementation of the CAA Agreement is envisaged in the Association Agreement (2014) between the EU and Ukraine, the Action Plan of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (CMU) and the Strategic Development Plan of the aviation transport. Despite of the officially announced readiness of the Ukrainian side, the signing of the CAA Agreement has been postponed since 2013. Investigation of the external and internal problems for the integration of Ukraine into the CAA creates the topicality of this paper and leads to the purpose of the article. Purpose of the article is comprehensive study of the legal basis and background of ECAA, analyzing the neighborhood policies and hence, the determination of the main directions of incorporation of the EU civil aviation requirements and standards regarding market access, air traffic organization, flight safety, the environment and other issues in Ukraine’s legislation. The article is based on usage of the general and special-legal scientific methods of cognition, as well as formal legal and dialectical approaches. Legal basement of this work, in particular, consists of: a) the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU of 2014; b) National Program of Adaptation of the Legislation of Ukraine to the Legislation of the European Union (adopted by the Law of Ukraine on November 04, 2018, № 2581-VIII); c) the Strategic Plan for the Development of Air Transport (adopted by the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine on December 21, 2015, Decree № 546) and d) the Action Plan to Prepare for the Introduction of a CAA of Ukraine with the EU and its Member States (adopted by the CMU on February 8, 2017, Order № 88-o) and other regulations. Results of the paper include the conceptual theoretic investigation to reveal external and internal problems on the way to the Ukraine’s integration into the CAA of the EU, practical recommendations for the process of approximation of Ukraine's legislation to the EU’s standards, and contribute to the liberalization of regulation of international air services.

Проблема философского содержания экономических понятий

The philosophical content in the structure of scientific concepts is connected with the scientific picture of the world, through it – with the worldview paradigm. Taking into account this circumstance has a positive effect on the quality of scientific research. The relevance of the problem is confirmed by the example of the analysis of one of the fundamental concepts of economic science – the concept of “economic activity”. To analyze the transformation of this concept, the methods of sociophilosophical analysis are used: the comparative method, the system and dialectical approaches, the hermeneutic method, the method. The connection of the change in the philosophical content of the concept of “economic activity” with the change of scientific pictures of the world from antiquity to the present is revealed. The negative side of the accumulation of the meanings of the concept of “economic activity” in the course of its historical development is shown. The productive vector of economic theory development is indicated by clarifying the philosophical content in the structure of its concepts. The indicated principles can be used in the development of a universal method of studying the language of science in various fields of social and humanitarian knowledge.

PERPETUATING THE MEMORY OF SOVIET SOLDIERS WHO PERISHED DURING THE LIBERATION OF EUROPEAN COUNTRIES FROM NAZISM DURING THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR (1944–1991): THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY

Comprehensive studying the experience of state and military structures in preserving and care of military cemeteries and places of memory about the heroic actions of the Red Army outside Russia, is gaining more and more theoretical significance and practical value. The purpose of this article is to summarize the results of the study dedicated to perpetuating the memory of Soviet soldiers who perished when liberating European countries from Nazism during the Great Patriotic War (chronology of events in 1944-1991). There are no special scientific works devoted to this topic that comprehensively consider the activities of the official structures of the Soviet Union abroad. The methodological basis of the research is the modern theory of society cognition, based on the concept of universal connections in its socio-economic, political and cultural life, and the dialectical approach to the analysis of social phenomena. The author analyses various aspects of the problem taking into account the immediate historical situation, reveals objective patterns that determined the goals and content of the process of preserving the memory of fallen Soviet soldiers, he studies the activities of the official structures of the Soviet Union abroad to perpetuate the memory of the Red Army soldiers who perished during the Great Patriotic War when liberating European countries from Nazism. In the course of the study, the author solved a number of tasks: transformation in the order of personal casualty records in the Red Army was investigated; the features of organizing the process of burial of the deceased and creation of military cemeteries in the territory of European states were established, as well as the existing classification of military graves was confirmed; the reasons for the large-scale loss of names of Red Army soldiers who died when liberating European countries from Nazism were determined; the main stages of the process of consolidation and preservation of Soviet military cemeteries in the territory of European countries were determined; the process of creating memorial structures and objects in Central and Eastern Europe was analyzed and its features were established; implementation of commemorative practices which formed in the Soviet times the historical memory about Red Army’s liberation mission in European countries; the author defines the peculiarities of inter-state cooperation on the issues of restoration and preservation of Soviet military graves and monuments in European countries; he defines the classification of the process of perpetuating the memory of Soviet soldiers in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The study performed suggests that it was during the enlargement of the Soviet military cemeteries after the war that a large-scale loss of the names of the fallen Red Army soldiers occurred. The process of creating memorials and arranging military necropolis in the European countries had a systematic character. The Soviet Union used various commemorative practices, with the help of which the historical memory of the Red Army’s liberation mission in Europe was formed.

The Multiple Dialectics of a Text and Author—A Study on Seng Zhao’s Non-Complete Emptiness (Bu zhenkong lun)

In discussing the arrival of Buddhism to China, Erik Zürcher describes the meeting of “a jungle of Buddhist metaphysics” with other local philosophies and practices. This period was a transformative encounter with wide-ranging ramifications, including for textual traditions. Non-complete Emptiness (Bu zhenkong lun 不真空論), written by Seng Zhao 僧肇, is one product of this encounter. While explaining the principle of emptiness, Non-complete Emptiness incorporates Daoist and Confucian terminologies and elements. Nevertheless, the text is considered formative for the development of Buddhist writing and practice during the critical period of Buddhism’s assimilation into China in the third to fifth centuries AD. This study of Non-complete Emptiness looks at the philosophical and cultural relevance of the text. It suggests a methodological solution to some of the tensions that have arisen from Seng Zhao’s notion of emptiness. The article begins by looking into the historical and hermeneutical tendencies in the scholarship of Non-complete Emptiness. The following section provides a textual and cultural analysis of the text and its author, viewing the sage as an “open entity”, to understand Seng Zhao’s idea of emptiness. This analysis suggests that a multiple dialectic approach should be followed to improve the understanding of the text’s Buddhist message and Seng Zhao’s position as a scholar-monk in medieval China.

Comparative analysis of brand management strategies

The article considers the process of branding as a means of self-promotion and personal expression. When conducting the study, the authors used the theory of consumer behavior of A. Maslow as a methodological basis, as well as the visual structures of the personality of Z. Freud, K. Jung. The aim of the study is to analyze the process of branding as a psycho-logical means of self-promotion and personality expression. During the study, general scientific methods of cognition were used within the framework of dialectical and systemic approaches, methods of logical and situational analysis. The main tasks of personal expression, solved with the help of brand products, have been identified. At the same time, the authors argue that the choice of brand products for self-promotion in all three cases is based on one psychological motive - self-realization and self-expression. It is shown that the brand brings additional income, since many consumers are ready to overpay, giving an additional amount of money for the opportunity to have a prestigious product even for a premium price. Brands have an emotional connection with consumers. Leading companies with famous brands have long noted for themselves that the connection of their goods with consumers lies through emotions. Brands help people fulfill their dreams, desires, open up more opportunities in life. The stronger and more significant the unique, rational and emotional characteristics of the brand for the consumer, the higher the price he is willing to pay for the product, the greater the opportunity for the company to profit. The increase in profits in turn leads to an increase in the value of shares and to an increase in the value of the company itself, since the brand is a kind of intangible asset. Brand ownership is a winning result of the history of the company, the fate of its founders and executives, skillful talented brand makers. Not every name of the company can be called a brand, not everyone is destined to become one, not everyone is given to maintain the level of the brand. Having a brand means that even with approximately equal consumer and other properties, the product will buy more, the idea will have more adherents.

USING COLORS IN NAMES FOR INDICATION TOURISM TYPES

Purpose. The purpose of this study is to describe the types of tourism, to indicate which color names are used, to analyze the prospects of their development for the Lviv region, and justify the feasibility of introducing a new type of tourism for the Lviv region using the color names “red” and “black”, which are symbols of the OUNR and components of their revolutionary flag. Design/methodology/approach. The goals set in the study were solved using the following general scientific methods: – methods of synthesis and analysis (in the study of various types of tourism to denote which color names are used. This allowed to connect the types of tourism with the association of tourists with a particular event (red tourism), place of travel (green, white, blue tourism), the tourist's desire to get strong impressions or emotions (black tourism), a certain category of tourists (pink and grey tourism) or as a field of research aimed at protecting the tourist heritage from any forms of crime and danger (yellow tourism)); – methods of systematization, theoretical generalization, and abstraction (in formulating conclusions and generalizing the obtained scientific results). Based on the dialectical approach, the article comprehensively discloses the provisions on black, white, red, green, pink, grey, blue, and yellow types of tourism. This allowed expanding the understanding of how promising these types of tourism are for the Lviv region. Findings. The article describes the following types of tourism, to indicate which color names are used: black, white, red, green, pink, blue, and yellow tourism. The importance of using the phenomenon of color in tourism is substantiated, color transmits certain information that evokes different associations, memories, feelings, affects mood and emotions. This allows marketers to use the features of the color influence on the formation of a subconscious decision as a hidden factor for manipulating the actions of consumers. Prospects for the development of these tourism types for the Lviv region are analyzed. It is concluded that the most promising are green and black tourism, less – white and grey tourism, and pink, blue and red types of tourism are hopeless for the Lviv region. An important role in the life of the people of Galicia (in particular, Lviv region) is played by historical events of the twentieth century, historical and cultural heritage, national liberation struggle, the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists socio-political movement, as well as recognition of the importance of Stepan Bandera in defending the national idea and struggle for the independent Ukrainian state. That is why the author introduced into scientific circulation a new promising type of tourism for the Lviv region using the color names “red” and “black”, which are symbols of the OUNR and components of their revolutionary flag. Practical implications. Increased interest in historical events, territory, and persons associated with the OUN can be used to organize a new niche of red-black tourism in Lviv while applying the concept of color names to better identify the essence of tourism, link to the historical figure, and specific territory, which will increase its attractiveness and form a certain image concerning these historical events, preservation and restoration of objects related to the activities of the OUN, and indirectly – to stimulate the socio-economic development of the territory. Originality/value. In the article, the author introduced into scientific circulation a new type of tourism for the Lviv region – “red-black tourism” that will include trips to places where Stepan Bandera lived, worked, and as well as visits to other territories and sites that played an important role in the national liberation struggle of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists. With the right organization, red-black tourism can have high prospects for development and become a business card of the Lviv region.

Parque Augusta (São Paulo/Brazil): From the Struggles of a Social Movement to Its Appropriation in the Real Estate Market and the Right to Nature in the City

Through a dialectical approach, building a thesis, an antithesis and a synthesis, our goal in this article is to discuss the implementation of the Parque Augusta, in the center of São Paulo, Brazil. For years, an organized social movement struggled with the municipality and real estate developers for the protection of the park and its green area. The demanded and desired park, collectively designed and managed, physically structured on the principles of the nature-based solutions (NBS), should represent a victory. However, in a capitalist urban space, the future park has already been appropriated in the real estate market to enhance development values and to increase the density of its environs with the construction of new skyscrapers. In a city tagging its climate actions using NBS concepts, the project in implementation by the municipality has fewer NBS elements than the co-designed with citizens participation. Here we present the narratives of the park creation and some indicators about its appropriation, based on land use and real estate market prices. The theoretical critical perspective was fundamental to reveal the contradictions within the park construction, called attention to the consideration of the surrounding area in greening projects and promoted a synthesis towards the universalization of the right to nature in the city.