Philosophical Treatise Research Articles

The social significance of slang

It is well‐established within linguistics that slang serves a group‐identifying function. In this paper, a new understanding of the notion of lexical metadata is developed to provide a philosophical treatment of said function. The proposed account explains the group‐identifying function of slang in terms of certain inferences about a speaker's group affiliations that people competent with a slang word will be disposed to make given the lexical metadata related to the word in question. The resulting view is theoretically simple and may extend to a whole range of linguistic phenomena that speakers utilize to position themselves in social space.

The Buddhist Logic of Distress (Saṃvega): An Exploration of Early Abhidharma Sources

In the early Buddhist discourses, distressing experiences like fear and disgust are evaluated in contradictory modes. These upsetting emotions are considered both a detriment and an advantage for those seeking liberation from suffering. This ambivalence is reflective of the classical Buddhist conception of distress. The earliest scholastic Buddhist texts (i.e., Abhidharma sources) have sought to resolve the ambivalence surrounding this conception. The Abhidharma texts thus explain precisely how, when, where and for whom distress can prove favorable. By tracing this intellectual endeavor, I examine in this article the systematic and philosophical treatments of distress (saṃvega) in early Buddhist scholasticism. I outline the reasons for considering the experience of distress to be beneficial, unveiling the religious framework within which distress is rendered positive and even essential. My central claim is that early Abhidharma sources conceive of distress as a potential source of energy that facilitates one’s progress on the religious path and determines how rapidly one can understand the truth.

THE WORLDVIEW OF GRIGORY SKOVORODA AND PANTHEISM: AN EXPERIENCE OF UNDERSTANDING IN THE DOMESTIC HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY

The article discusses the nature of the worldview of G. Skovoroda, the first philosopher of the Russian Empire. The authors of this study consider the correlation of the pantheistic religious and philosophical doctrine and theology of Skovoroda. First of all, the article comprehensively analyses the arguments of opponents of the identification of Skovoroda’s philosophy and pantheism. In particular, the thesis on the difference between Skovoroda’s worldview and pantheism is considered on the basis of differences in ideas about God with the Dutch thinker Spinoza. At the same time, the authors present arguments against the credibility of this thesis. As a source, the article considers the philosophical treatises of G. Skovoroda, which set out the worldview of the Russian thinker. As follows from the analysis of Skovoroda’s writings, his teaching about God can be identified with the religious and philosophical doctrine of pantheism. In Skovoroda’s philosophy, God is not the creator, but an integral part of the universe - its immaterial mind and essence. Skovoroda considered substance as eternal and uncreated by God. The world is described as a mirage and a shadow of divinity. All this allows the authors to identify Skovoroda’s philosophy and idealistic pantheism.

THE BHAGAVAD GITA: A TIMELESS GUIDE TO ETHICAL LIVING AND PERSONAL GROWTH THROUGH KNOWLEDGE AND ENLIGHTENMENT

The Bhagavad Gita, a revered Hindu scripture, stands as a profound philosophical treatise offering timeless life lessons that transcend cultural and religious boundaries. This study delves into the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, exploring its influence on personal growth, ethical decision-making, and the pursuit of knowledge. By examining core concepts such as duty, selflessness, resilience, and enlightenment, this paper highlights the relevance of the Gita’s wisdom in contemporary life. The objective is to demonstrate how the Bhagavad Gita’s teachings remain pertinent today, providing guidance for leading a meaningful and ethical life in the modern world.

Those Infinite, Multiform Stories without Fixity: Myth and History, a Very Long Engagement

This paper deals with the problematic relationship between ancient historiography and mythology, or mythological stories as historical sources for historical research. Although Greek historiography had, in a sense, already been confronted with the problem of mythological intrusions into the substance of methodologically well-developed historical procedures (as early as the 5th century BC), Roman historiography continued for a long time to critically investigate and purify the stories of the foundation myths. This paper presents a detailed analysis of some methodologically relevant passages that reveal the attitudes of individual Greek and Roman historiographers towards myth as a (non-)source. At the same time, it questions the attitude of (early) Roman historiography towards myth by examining the philosophical treatise of the 2nd/3rd century philosopher Sextus Empiricus.

In Some Ways: Syādvāda as the Synthesis of Anekāntavāda and Nayavāda in Akalaṅka’s Philosophical Treatises

AbstractThis paper investigates the relationship between the theory of many-sidedness (anekāntavāda), the theory of viewpoints (nayavāda), and the theory of sevenfold conditional predication (syādvāda) in the philosophical monographs of the Jaina philosopher Akalaṅka (c. 720-780 CE). Despite being celebrated as novel Jaina contributions to Indian philosophy, the mutual relationship between these three theories is poorly understood. Do these three theories represent three distinct frameworks with distinct purposes? Or do these three theories ultimately synthesise to form a single unified framework? Through a careful study of the Laghīyastraya and the Nyāyaviniścaya, this paper shows how Akalaṅka understands syādvāda as the central organising framework for integrating the theory of many-sidedness and the theory of viewpoints. On the one hand, syādvāda is analysed as the synthesis of multiple viewpoints because each of the seven conditional predications, when taken individually, represents a genuine viewpoint. On the other hand, the seven conditional predications of syādvāda, when taken collectively and iterated with respect to different characteristics, represent the linguistic formalisation of many-sided (anekānta) Jaina ontology. This paper shows how syādvāda as the grand synthesis of the theory of many-sidedness and the theory of viewpoints creates new possibilities as well as new problems within Akalaṅka’s philosophical system.

Handwritten Materials in Japanese from O.O. Rosenberg’s Personal Archive Kept at the IOM, RAS

This article introduces several handwritten materials in Japanese from the personal archive of O.O. Rosenberg (1888–1919) now kept at the Archive of Orientalists, IOM, RAS. These handwritten texts reveal new details about O.O. Rosenberg’s interaction with Japanese Buddhist scholars and publishers before and after the publication of his two dictionaries in 1916 in Japan. In addition to academic activities, O.O. Rosenberg had to deal with financial and legal matters, maintained contacts with printing company staff, discussed various diplomatic procedures. He also had a wide network of contacts in Japan, including other foreigners. Relying on this network and his fluent knowledge of Japanese, handwritten Japanese in particular, O.O. Rosenberg was able to complete his publication projects successfully. This study presents O.O. Rosenberg’s dictionaries as an important component of the project led by Th.I. Stcherbatsky to restore the terminology of Sanskrit philosophical treatises. Future work plans outlined by the young scholar demonstrate his exceptional diligence and competence in matters of Oriental philology. All documents, translated from Japanese by A. Lushchenko, are published for the first time.

Facing Uncertainty: The Philosophy of Divination in the Xici 繋辭

Abstract: The Xici 繋辭 (Attached Verbalizations) is commonly considered as a pivotal text that transformed the 周易 ( Zhou Changes or the Book of Changes) from a manual of divination into a philosophical treatise. Yet in current scholarship, there is no consensus as to how to make sense of its authors’ argument that the Zhouyi provides a mantic method—particularly selecting hexagrams based on a counting of the yarrow stalks—to understand the working of the natural system and comprehend the intricacies of a developing event. In this essay, I will offer a reading of the Xici that shows how divination can be philosophically profound, and conversely, how philosophy can be made concrete through a practice of divination. In view of the uncertainty in our times—globally, regionally, socially, and individually—it is in our best interest to learn to see the world from the perspective of the Xici .

Semantics of light as a tool for shaping the architecture of the modern era

The semantics of light is considered through the prism of a cultural phenomenon, as an object of research, as well as a tool for the formation of visual and spatial characteristics of architecture from ancient times to the architecture of the modern era. It is emphasized that light, as a tool, is semantically perceived in mythological representations, aesthetic and philosophical treatises, in the theory of architecture. An analysis of the use of light in the formation of an artistic image in the architecture of the latest era is provided from the point of view of physical-spatial, aesthetic-emotional and figurative-semantic aspects according to the levels of scale: macro-scale, meso-scale, micro-scale. The perception of architecture is revealed through the semantics of using natural light as speech, which conveys meaning through light-spatial plasticity and generates certain emotions and feelings. Spaces, objects, exhibits, parts of structures illuminated in one way or another reveal the semantic meaning of light as a powerful tool and show the external (physical) and internal (sensory) beauty and aesthetics of the object. The semantics of light in architecture affects the formation of design and general atmosphere, contributes to the creation of emotional depth and cultural significance of buildings and structures. The following semantic principles of light are highlighted in the work: the interaction of light with the urban context – the lighting design of buildings and structures is integrated into the existing urban environment to convey one or another message; conveying the symbolic meaning of light through metaphor and narrative – light is used to reinforce a key idea or theme of buildings and structures, and its meaning influences cultural identity by reflecting local features and national symbols; emotional impact and creation of an atmosphere - a variety of lighting techniques contributes to the enrichment of emotional and personal experience.

A.W. Rehberg, Investigations Concerning the French Revolution (1793)

ABSTRACT This is a translation of selections from Part One, Chapter One of Rehberg's Investigations, which contains his critique of the philosophical principles animating the French Revolution. No English translation of the text currently exists. The Investigations was one of the most influential philosophical treatments of the Revolution in eighteenth-century Germany and remains an important specimen of ‘Kantian’ political theory from the 1790s. The Investigations had a clear impact on Kant's political philosophy and the work of the early Fichte. The translation is accompanied by an editorial introduction that introduces the reader to Rehberg and outlines his core arguments.

TREATISES BY SEYYID YAHYA BAKUVI IN THE HISTORY AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE KHALVATIYA SUFI ORDER

Islam, although it is the youngest religion among monotheistic religions, as is known, the text of its holy book, the Quran, is replete with allegories and metaphors. Reading the Quran and knowing some surahs by heart was the duty of every Muslim in the Middle Ages. In this regard, there is a need for a living teacher and mentor. The need for spiritual leadership prepared fertile ground for the emergence of Sufi tariqah orders. In the 14th century, Omar Sirajaddin al-Khalwati, using the method of seclusion (in Arabic, “halwat”), laid the foundation of the Khalwati order. However, the tariqa received its true development under Seyyid Yahya Shirvani-Bakuvi. Thanks to the religious and philosophical treatises he wrote, this order went beyond the borders of Azerbaijan and expanded its sphere of influence in the Crimea, Dagestan, the Ottoman Empire, the Balkans, India, and Africa. The only copy of Sufi treatises by Seyyid Yahya Shirvani-Bakuvi called “Resayel” in Azerbaijan is kept at the Institute of Manuscripts of Azerbaijan Perublic. Written in 1672, this handwritten monument contains the religious and philosophical lyrical heritage of the great sheikh and the works of other authors.

Проблема движения в философии Махмуда Ша­бистари

The article is dedicated to the interpretation of the problem of motion by Mahmud Shabistari – one of the prominent medieval Persian Sufi thinkers. The main source for the study was his philosophical treatise “Haqq al-Yaqin fi Ma’rifat Rabb al-’Alamin”. The article includes the first translation into a European language (Russian) of a chapter from this treatise – “On the Manifestation of Movement and the Renewal of Manifesta­tions”. Ancient authors also dealt with the problem of motion comprehension. The inves­tigation of the way Shabistari solves this problem is particularly interesting because, striving for the affirmation of strict monotheism, he proposed a monistic model of the uni­verse where only the One First Principle exists. He considered the existence of everything else as an illusion. However, such a statement makes any change impossible, and conse­quently movement as well. Meanwhile, Shabistari, on the contrary, states the constant circular motion of the First Principle with itself as the center. It generates its numerous virtual images in non-being, that move constantly around the One. These images include everything – from the Universal Reason to the individual human being. Shabistari con­structs a system of virtual images motion based on a fractal principle: the circle around the point of the One represents the motion trajectory of the first creature – the Universal Reason. Each point of this circle is the Universal Reason’s manifestation at each individ­ual moment in the form of one of the forty existence levels. In its turn, each level of exis­tence becomes also a center of the circular motion of its virtual copies – individual things.

Impact of a philosophical intervention on the reduction of depression in high school students.

Adolescence is a critical and challenging period in development; therefore, it is of utmost importance to address and prevent disorders such as depression or anxiety. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of a philosophical intervention on depression rates in high school students. The method consisted of the evaluation of depression before and after the intervention with the BDI-Y test. Of the cases of the young people attended in the intervention workshops, on average, their depressive classification decreased by 67%. The implementation of the workshops with content in ethical values can be a model of early mental health intervention to reduce the levels of depression in high school students, which created a multiplier effect in the class groups, as well as in the increase of coexistence and teamwork.

Asymmetry of Screen and Book Culture

The digital tsunami, the invasion of which was unimaginable just a generation ago, raises numerous questions among philosophers, cultural scientists, and specialists in other professions. Some of these questions run as follows: is the transition from book culture to screen culture irreversible; are there intermediate stages of this transition; and, why is there no reverse development of the book from the film? Answers are offered in this article. The accepted view is that the standard of book culture is literature (presumably a novel), and in particular, philosophical treatises; and the genuine “screen” paragon is cinema (a film), and a play on television, as a mediator. Other forms of cultural phenomena, events and facts are also discussed, which are associated with the indicated invasion of “digitals” into the life of society and of the individual, causing a restructuring of private and public consciousness.

“Who raised you?”: Black women’s indispensable conceptualizations of mothering for theorizing and researching DisCrit

Traditionally, the academic field of special education has resisted critical perspectives. Despite their advanced skills, epistemological approaches, and ways of knowing, special education scholars enacting qualitative inquiry have often described inadequate support from their academic community. In a parallel manner, Black mothering in historical and contemporary spaces, especially in mothering disabled children, has often been dismissed for its valued expertise. This essay is a methodological, theoretical, spiritual, epistemological, and deeply philosophical intervention on the roles of Black mothers in all spaces who grapple with the tensions in the field of special education. The authors build upon Black Feminist epistemology and use Disability Critical Theory as a framework, documenting the journeys of two Black women mother and scholars through duoethnographic storytelling. Realizing that people who are mothering have their own agency and choose what they want to build with the nurturing Black mothers offer, we center multidisciplinary dialogues that lead to deeper understandings of qualitative research methods. Through these exemplars, we highlight how mothering and othermothering, whether through birth, ancestral, or academic kinships, are used to advance ways of knowing about how to best support disabled youth whose futures are pervasively threatened.

Жизнь как поиск. Памяти Александра Леонидовича Никифорова (1940–2023)

The article provides an overview of the creative heritage of Alexander Leonidovich Nikiforov, an attempt is made to comprehend it in an integral way. The main purpose of the author of this article is the exposition of the philosopher’s views on key theoretical issues. Each section of the article is based on the reference material, which, in the author’s opinion, most successfully demonstrates the position of A.L. Nikiforov on indicated issues. In particular, his views on the nature of philosophical knowledge and the problem of the relationship between philosophy and science are presented. His criticism of the traditional semantic theory that defines the meaning of a word through a single referent in the physical world is analyzed, as well as his proposed concept of a proper name as a common sign carrying informative and communicative functions: the sign is a complex structure consisting of physical, cultural and personal layers. A.L. Nikiforov’s ideas about the historical development of science and, in general, about the future development of mankind are revealed. His political reflections are outlined as well – his critics of liberal ideology for the reduction of human needs and an abstract idea of the individual. Nikiforov pays special attention to the importance of preserving historical memory and the need to counter destructive trends in this area. Special attention is paid to his point of view on the methodology of the humanities, which by their very nature are characterized by an orientation towards secondary interpretation and subjectivity. His criticism of the L. Wittgenstein’s “Logical and Philosophical Treatise” and reflections on the problem of the meaning of life, which he sees in the creative self-realization of a person, are outlined as well.

Historical Development of Alternative Education: Western Perspective

Abstract: This paper delves into the intricate tapestry of alternative education within the context of the Western world, tracing its historical trajectory from its inception to contemporary manifestations. Alternative education, often emerging as a response to mainstream educational paradigms, embodies diverse philosophies and practices aimed at fostering holistic development, critical thinking, and individualized learning experiences. Drawing upon historical records, philosophical treatises, and educational movements, this paper explores the evolution of alternative educational approaches, highlighting key figures, ideologies, and movements that have shaped its development over time. From the Renaissance humanism to the progressive education movement of the 20th century, this study elucidates the underlying motivations and societal contexts that have propelled the proliferation of alternative educational models. Moreover, it examines the enduring relevance and challenges faced by alternative education in the contemporary landscape, amidst changing societal dynamics and educational policies. This paper talks about the role of Montessori education, Waldorf education, STEM etc in western education. Through a comprehensive analysis, this paper illuminates the rich tapestry of alternative education in the Western world, offering insights into its historical significance and potential avenues for future exploration and innovation.

“The Yoga of ‘You Go’”: Meher Baba’s “Ascendant Path” to Nonduality

This comparative theological article explores Meher Baba’s written Vedāntic teaching he once called “the yoga of ‘you go’” within a cosmological scheme he named “The Divine Theme,” which features in his books God Speaks and The Nothing and the Everything. Following his Vedāntic master, Upasni Maharaj and Sri Rāmakṛṣṇa, Meher Baba innovated on what scholars call the Yoga Advaita traditions. The important features of these lineages that impact his version are mental annihilation or manonāśa and the destruction of impressions or vāsanākṣaya (what he called “unwinding saṃskāras”) in order to liberate the soul while living in a body or jīvanmukti. Further, I map the total arc of Meher Baba’s work and how it fits historically within the Yoga Advaita lineages as they developed from the tenth century CE to the present. There are two basic sides to his work: his written teaching, which consolidates what one commentator calls “the ascendant path of return” to the nondual Self, and his active ministry, which I can only introduce here, which charts new territory for the future in what this commentator calls “the descendant path” of God-realization. I also constructively explore the ways that in The Nothing and the Everything the story of Gaṇeśa’s decapitation and recapitation is used to express, in narrative form, the philosophical treatment in God Speaks. In terms of salvation, Meher Baba’s teaching yields a theology of religious diversity I call “exhaustivism.” This refers to an “exhaustive” scope of learning literally all there is to learn in creation as each form in creation, including every kind of religious possibility in the human phase of reincarnation, a use of energy in each stage of the cosmic growth process that is “exhausting,” and finally, it refers to a difficult final stage of return to the divine that is marked by safely disposing of the saṃskāric “exhaust” generated in this evolution. Lastly, I offer some topics for further study in his Divine Theme that include the nature of human life and death, as well as the role of religions, God-realized masters or “Man-Gods,” and Meher Baba himself as the “God-Man” or Avatāra.

Жизнь как поиск. Памяти Александра Леонидовича Никифорова (1940–2023)

The article provides an overview of the creative heritage of Alexander Leonidovich Nikiforov, an attempt is made to comprehend it in an integral way. The main purpose of the author of this article is the exposition of the philosopher’s views on key theoretical issues. Each section of the article is based on the reference material, which, in the author’s opinion, most successfully demonstrates the position of A.L. Nikiforov on indicated issues. In particular, his views on the nature of philosophical knowledge and the problem of the relationship between philosophy and science are presented. His criticism of the traditional semantic theory that defines the meaning of a word through a single referent in the physical world is analyzed, as well as his proposed concept of a proper name as a common sign carrying informative and communicative functions: the sign is a complex structure consisting of physical, cultural and personal layers. A.L. Nikiforov’s ideas about the historical development of science and, in general, about the future development of mankind are revealed. His political reflections are outlined as well – his critics of liberal ideology for the reduction of human needs and an abstract idea of the individual. Nikiforov pays special attention to the importance of preserving historical memory and the need to counter destructive trends in this area. Special attention is paid to his point of view on the methodology of the humanities, which by their very nature are characterized by an orientation towards secondary interpretation and subjectivity. His criticism of the L. Wittgenstein’s “Logical and Philosophical Treatise” and reflections on the problem of the meaning of life, which he sees in the creative self-realization of a person, are outlined as well.

Schleiermacher’s Speeches and the Modern Critique of Religion

Friedrich Schleiermacher is often credited with playing a foundational role in the development of the modern concept of religion. His epoch-making Speeches on religion, published in 1799 amidst the widespread social and intellectual upheaval of the Sattelzeit, present a novel description of religious feeling and religious communication, which mark a turning away from the rationalistic treatments of religion in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and which served as both inspiration and foil for scholars of religion throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. This essay suggests a reading of Schleiermacher’s Speeches that is organized around two interrelated claims. First, the text does not proceed as speculative philosophical treatise aiming to establish an overarching theory of religion but as a critical dialogue that inquires into the distinctive particularity of religion and religious expression. Second, religious piety, as depicted in the Speeches, is not found in the isolated inwardness of individual experience but in coordinated tension with sociality, in communications of religious feeling that are bound together with a living apprehension of the world. On this account, religion for Schleiermacher, though rooted in feeling and self-consciousness, is nonetheless no private affair; it is realized within the developing complex of social and historical living.