The article for the first time in the scientific literature highlights the place and role of the Institute of Philosophy of H. S. Skovoroda of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in the creation and development of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies of the National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” (NaUKMA), established 1992. Focusing on important role of the scientists of the Institute of Philosophy in the actualization of the intellectual heritage and institutional memory of the glorious Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (...) (KMA, 1615‒1817), the article stresses the direct involvement of scientists and philosophers of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in the revival of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy as a modern university, started 30 years ago by a group of Ukrainian scientists and educators headed by Vyacheslav Briukhovetskyi, and training of the first bachelors and masters of philosophy in Ukraine. Revealing the main goal of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies of NaUKMA – the formation of a new generation of Ukrainian philosophers whose professional level meets modern Western standards, the author focuses attention on the model of philosophical education formed in cooperation with scientists of the Institute of Philosophy, innovative for the post-Soviet era. This model is based on a combination of general humanitarian and professional training, educational process and scientific studies, students’ in-depth knowledge of both history as well as modern directions and trends of philosophical thought, primary sources on classical and modern philosophy, proper mastery of foreign languages with the aim of directly studying the original heritage of the worldwide and Ukrainian philosophical thought, as well as the latest research literature. Outlining the achievements of the leading specialists of the Institute in the field of teaching and implementation of philosophical educational programs of NaUKMA, the author proves that their long-term cooperation with the university has become not only one of the fundamental foundations of the NaUKMA’s philosophical school, but also a powerful stimulus for professional development and creative self-realization of its Institute colleagues. (shrink)

The article dedicated to the 200th anniversary of Dmytro Vasyliovych Pospiekhov, a philosopher, psychologist, theologian and translator, for the first time in the scientific literature, highlights the milestones of his academic biography and more than 50 years of professor’s tenure at the Department of Philosophy of Kyiv Theological Academy. Based on the analysis of a significant array of printed sources and archival documents, memories of colleagues and students of Dmytro Pospiekhov, the content and specifics of his educational, administrative, editorial and (...) publishing, translation activities at the Academy were revealed for the first time; his important role in the training of professional philosophers, the development of philosophical education and the spread of philosophical knowledge in the East Slavic territories was proven. Paying special attention to Dmytro Pospiekhov’s methods of teaching of philosophical disciplines, the author emphasizes his lecturing methodology, innovative for the theological academies of the time, as well as the heuristic, religious, educational, and moral impact on the students. A special emphasis is placed on Dmytro Pospiekhov’s scientific and editorial activities, his biographical and bibliographic studies, his role in the preservation and studying of the heritage of prominent philosophers and theologians of Kyiv Theological Academy of the 1820s‒1840s: Archpriest Ivan Skvortsov, Archimandrite Theophanes, Sylvestr Hohotskyi. Analyzing Dmytro Pospiekhov’s printed works for the first time, the author reveals the content and significance of his theological and philosophical study of the Book of Wisdom, which emphasizes the direct connection of this Judaic source to the philosophical teachings of Philo of Alexandria, Plato, and the Stoics. The author also draws attention to the significant research potential of Dmytro Pospiekhov’s manuscript heritage, linking it with the study of the prospects of determining his role in the development of psychological science in theological academies and the expansion of modern scientific ideas about the content and specifics of teaching of philosophical disciplines in Kyiv of the second half of the 19th Century. (shrink)

The article highlights the features of Candidate Degree works of the Kyiv Theological Academy students of the 19th – the beginning of the 20th centuries as the most important element of their educational and scientific training. Based on a wide range of primary sources, the author refutes the false identification of works for obtaining of the degree of Candidate of Theology, written in the Orthodox theological academies of the Russian Empire, with the modern Candidate dissertations. Considering these works as qualifying (...) works for obtaining an academic degree of Candidate of Theology that are of similar status as the modern diploma works of higher education institution students, the author argues that such an approach does not diminish their importance and their great source potential in the study of scholarly work of the Orthodox theological academies of the 19th – early 20th centuries. Based on the example of the Kyiv Theological Academy, the article reveals the important role of independent research work of the students, their mastering of skills of academic reading and writing in creating Candidate Degree works of quality; explains the procedural moments associated with their preparation, review, and evaluation. Based on the preserved manuscripts of Candidate Degree works of the Kyiv Theological Academy students, the paper outlines their subjects related to Bible Studies, Patrology, Dogmatic, Comparative, Moral, Pastoral Theology, Liturgy, and Homiletics, which are considered chiefly on historical material. The author stresses the particular popularity of the studies in History of the Church at the Kyiv Theological Academy, as well as other theological academies, particularly the study of history of the Orthodox Church and its hierarchy in so-called Southewestern Krai of the Russian Empire, as well as the history of the Kyiv Theological Academy of the 17th – 19th centuries. The article clarifies that contrary to the requirements of the Most Holy Synod to offer and choose the topics of exclusively theological nature for the qualification works, The Kyiv Theological Academy found the opportunity to realize the interest of students in other humanities – first of all, philosophy, the evidence of which is more than one hundred remaining manuscripts of Candidate Degree works on philosophical issues. (shrink)

This article is devoted to determining the source potential of the so-called dissertations collection of the Kyiv Theological Academy in the study of its philosophical heritage. The author draws attention to the distinction of the hierarchy of educational and academic degrees in the Russian Empire the first, candidate’s degree, not being a research degree, from today’s hierarchy. The candidate’s degree at that time was awarded to graduates of higher education institutions on the basis of their academic achievements and a final (...) work, which should be considered analogous to a diploma work, not to dissertations intended for public defense for a PhD degree. The article reveals that the collection of candidate papers from the Manuscript Institute contains important sources for researchers of biographies of the graduates of the Kyiv Theological Academy, its history, and academic heritage. Out of more than two thousand manuscripts stored in the Funds no. 304, the author has for the first time selected and systematized an array of candidate works on philosophical subjects, substantiating their important role in the research of the philosophical heritage of the Kyiv Theological Academy. (shrink)

Monograph by A. Kolodnyi "Religious Life of Ukraine in the Persons of Its Persons and Researchers" - assessments of its reviewers M. Tkachuk, P.Movchan, A.Yermolenko and P.Yarotsky.

The article for the first time presents the powerful historical and philosophical potential of the collection of handwritten candidate works of Kyiv Theological Academy (КТА) students, which is kept at Manuscript Institute, V. I. Vernadskyi National Library of Ukraine. According to the analyzed manuscripts, despite the church-confessional and specialized theological orientation of the theological academies, as well as the system of rigid regulations and control by the Most Holy Synod in the subject matters and content of the final works, the (...) students showed a persistent research interest in philosophy. The author identifies more than 150 candidate works of KTA students that are directly relevant to philosophical topics and issues. Most of them are research on the history of Western (from Classical antiquity to the beginning of the 20th century), Eastern and Russian philosophy. At the same time, the handwritten works available in the collection express the interest of students in the problems of epistemology, philosophy of history, social philosophy, axiology, ethics and aesthetics, philosophy of religion, as well as their attraction to complex interdisciplinary studies, combining the issues of philosophy and history of philosophy with theology, psychology, pedagogy and literary studies. (shrink)