IDEAS. PHILOSOPHICAL JOURNAL. SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC ISSUES

Professor Vitaly Zhadko. On the 80th anniversary of the birth: the fate of a scientist and scientific achievements

From the editorial team — 2025-07-07

Emmanuel Levinas on dual violence, the Other, and war

Maksym Kotsiuba — 2025-07-07

The article examines the topic of violence and war in the philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas (1906-1995). The main focus is revealing his philosophy’s theoretical foundations and personal motives. In particular, it is about the phenomenological background of Levinasian philosophizing and his personal experience of violence and war. At the same time, attention is focused on the fact that without considering these moments, the understanding of Levinasian philosophy will not look complete and may even entirely fall apart into unrelated or inconsistent plots. Without them, we will have Levinas as a phenomenologist with inconsistent and non-phenomenological ethics, or vice versa – as an ethicist with religious ethics detached from the real world and the state of affairs in it. The article argues the position according to which the theme of violence and war is the one that connects Levinasian ethics and phenomenology. Particular attention is paid to the dual nature of violence: the violence of the Self over the Other and the violence of the Other itself over the Self. In this way, the emphasis is on the fact that the second violence is non-original and can be overcome, whereas the first violence is original, ineradicable and traumatic, that is, it cannot be overcome. Levinas understands war as the ultimate form of any violence in general and the fundamental principle of being that suspends morality.

Subjective and objective in the situation of existential choice of behavior motivation

Vitaliy Zhadko — 2025-07-07

The article considers the problem of the correlation of existentially determined motivational dominants of human behavior from the point of view of the determining methods of his cognitive and practical life activity. It is about the innate tendency to figurative-associative cognition, in which individual subjective representations are transferred to the natural and social environment. This distorts the picture of the world, in which the leading role is played by the subjective factor, and not objective laws. At the same time, not only the natural environment is destroyed, because, feeling himself its master, a person does not observe the measure of his influence on it. In society, this is manifested in the fact that the history of mankind is accompanied by constant wars for actual self-destruction. An objective picture of the world is created by means of an abstract-theoretical way of thinking, which, being formed in the education system, is unable to overcome the primary force of attraction of the subjective tendency to figurative “thinking in pictures”. Hence the paradox: the negative consequences of humanity’s activity are quite obvious, but it is unable to stop. After all, it is possible to motivate one’s activity, subordinating direct volitional impulses to the requirements of “pure” objective reason, only in relation to objects of nature in the sphere of a purely scientific-theoretical method of cognition, and not to man as a simultaneously object-subject subjective being, inclined in the sphere of state life to subjectivism and voluntarism. What is facilitated by the right to elect power without checking the ability to overcome subjective sympathies in favor of an objective understanding of the essence of the state and one’s own responsibility for the choice. Otherwise, there will be a burial of democracy in the practice of populism. In the sphere of material and production activity, subjective inclusions in the scientific picture of the world negatively affect the natural environment, since the warnings of ecologists are ignored in most cases. The essence of these inclusions is that the human desire to objectify them is quite powerful, even knowing that Being hasn't been studied in its maximum possible integrity, and that haste motivates us from within. Hence the drama and tragedy of human history and the existence of an individual person.

Virtual conspiracies about Jesus Christ: Pastoral and media perspectives

Hedviga Tkáčová — 2025-07-07

The study presents the phenomenon of virtual conspiracy theories about Jesus Christ. It points out that in the digital age, conspiracy theories spread quickly and find a wide audience. The pastoral perspective reveals how these theories can influence the faith and spiritual life of believers, while the media perspective examines the role of digital platforms and social media in spreading these conspiracies, highlighting how social media allows such content to gain popularity and credibility among users. In the discussion section, the study presents possible strategies for believers to combat disinformation.

Sharia and power in the views of Ibn Taymiyyah

Dmytro Bilozor — 2025-07-07

In the article devoted to the activities of Ibn Taymiyyah (1263–1328), a theologian, the most authoritative representative of the Hanbali school, we will review the main ideas that influenced the formation of one of the strictest branches of Sunni Islam. Drawing attention to the historical and socio-political conditions of the Middle East of the 13th century, we trace the connection and origins of Ibn Taymiyyah's ideas. We will analyze the key tenets and views of this outstanding philosopher of the Islamic Middle Ages. Such ideas primarily include a pure perception of the Qur'an, with the impossibility of the appearance of subjective distortions. Also, a key paradigm will be the rejection of any innovations in Islam, which will later be twisted and become a symbol of the struggle for isolation and opposition to Western values. No less important will be the idea of returning to the righteous ideas of the first Muslims as a symbol of purity and righteousness. The specific concept of jihad is redefined, which will be key in accusing the author as the founder of the philosophy of Islamic radicalism. Let's analyze the connection between Ibn Taymiyyah's ideas and the modern world, because recently there has been a tendency to depict the philosopher as the founder of a radical branch of Islam. Such an idea arose during the use of the philosophy of Ibn Taymiyyah in the teachings of Muhammad Abd al-Wahhab, and, in turn, the teachings of Wahhab are mistakenly portrayed as the beginning of an extremist direction of Muslims. The present study attempts to refute such judgements by drawing attention to the humanist and theocentric origins of Ibn Taymiyyah's ideas. The author emphasizes the impossibility of literally applying and interpreting medieval ideas in the modern world, due to their absolute inconsistency with the new time and value orientations.

The interrelation of philosophy, religion, ethics, and medicine: a historical and cultural retrospective

Fedir Stupak — 2025-07-07

The article analyzes the relationship of philosophy, religion and ethical issues with medicine. The development of these issues in the Ancient World and in the Middle Ages is shown, historical factors of influence are reviewed. On the example of the development of civilizations of the Ancient World, the Middle Ages, the activities of famous figures of the past, an attempt was made to show the connection between medicine, philosophy, religion, ethics and charity. Against the background of the development of mythological and religious ideas, a picture of the formation and development of a network of medical and charitable institutions (hospitals, almshouses, shelters for various purposes, etc.) is presented. Interesting information is given about the emergence of the main medical emblem (Mesopotamia), about such a phenomenon as embalming in Ancient Egypt, which was associated with the religious beliefs of the Egyptians of that time. The mention of the most famous doctor of Egypt of antiquity Imhotep, who was both a physician, and a state dignitary of high rank, and an architect, is not overlooked. The first Egyptian pyramid was built precisely because of the architectural talent of Imhotep, who was a physician, and a state dignitary of high rank, and an architect. Attention is drawn to the high moral requirements of cohabitation in ancient Indian society, the education and training of a doctor in the spirit of such high ethical requirements. The development of ancient Indian society subsequently led to the emergence of Ayurvedic medicine. The essence of Zoroastrianism is revealed. The drink of philosophical ideas on the emergence of the Chinese method of treatment - acupuncture is shown. Attention is focused on the main historical and cultural components of the high development of antiquity. Among the researchers of the past, special attention is paid to such the outstanding scientists as Aristotle, Lucretius, Maimonides, and most significantly to one of the greatest encyclopedic scientists in the world history of science - Avicenna.

The main worldview problems of the humanitarian component of modern medical education

Anatoliy Vermenko — 2025-07-07

The article examines the main problems and prospects of updating the worldview and value foundations of the humanitarian component of modern medical education. The social, theoretical, and ideological origins and dimensions of the spread of nonsystematic, excessively individualized and social passive trends in the worldview of modern youth are characterized. The article offers basic elements of the concept of preparing students for existence in a post-globalized society in the process of studying philosophy and other humanitarian disciplines. The expediency and necessity of preserving and increasing the volume of philosophical and other humanitarian disciplines in the system of medical education, in particular at the university level, are substantiated by revealing the contribution of them in the creation of a holistic scientific worldview of students, the development of critical systemic thinking, and formation of a general and professional culture of future medical specialists. The leading role of the philosophical worldview in shaping the ability of students to withstand the information, ideological, cultural challenges of the modern world, to maintain the humanistic orientation of professional medical activity, to avoid both the excessive isolation of the citizen from society, characteristic for the theory and practice of globalization, and the unconditional subordination of personal life to participation in social conflicts, proclaimed by post-globalists, is outlined.

The problem of knowledge heterogeneity in medical education

Serhii Kiriienko — 2025-07-07

Science and the whole array of human knowledge can be symbolically compared with the mythological animal, which, existing for centuries, consumes the surrounding nature and gradually grows not only quantitatively, but also qualitatively, revealing more and more unexpected properties that need more and more comprehension at each stage. Not only the content of specific knowledge of a particular field is flowing, but also the way in which heterogeneous knowledge interacts with each other. There are areas synthetic from the very beginning, like medicine, which combines heterogeneous knowledge. Therefore, especially for medicine, at every historical stage in the development of knowledge, it is relevant to study how exactly different types of knowledge, fields of knowledge and individual sciences interact, forming an intellectual medical environment.

The role of religion in the integration of Ukrainian immigrants in the Czech Republic

Milan Luptak — 2025-07-07

The authors of the article aim to analyze the features of migration and immigration processes in the Czech Republic caused by the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine in 2022. Based on official statistical and sociological data, the researchers note a significant share (more than ten percent) of foreign migrants among the entire population. It is noted that the largest community of migrants in the Czech Republic today are Ukrainians, whose number has increased since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in February 2022. An assessment is given to Czech state programs for the integration of labor migrants and refugees into the domestic labor market. The asymmetry in the integration of Ukrainian refugees is highlighted, among whom the majority, having higher education and being economically active, are forced to work in low-paid and unstable jobs. Particular attention in the article is focused on the role of the church and religion in the integration of foreigners in the face of existential challenges. It is proved that modern theories of economic migration, which see the prerequisites for migration exclusively in the rational calculation and decision of an individual or family, cannot claim to be a general systemic theory, since they do not take into account the importance of the influence of religious beliefs, religious faith and church affiliation of immigrants. The need for rethinking in the context of migration research of such social institutions as family, citizenship, national state, church, etc. is substantiated. This study interprets international and foreign religious organizations as institutions that have directly introduced new practices into the religious sphere and thus helped subsequent generations of immigrants to integrate into local society, thereby changing the religious landscape in these countries and making them (the states of North America and Western Europe) highly globalized and highly differentiated.

"Philosophy, religion and medicine in the modern age", review of the 7nd international scientific and practical conference

Iryna Vasylieva — 2025-07-07

The article contains an overview of the 7nd International Scientific and Practical Conference “Philosophy of Religion and Medicine in the Post-secular Age”, dedicated to the following issues and problems: Questions of religion and medicine in life and work of St. Luke (V. F. Voino-Yasenetskyi); Methodological and historical aspects of the relationships between religion and medicine in contemporary society; Human health in the context of philosophy, religion and medicine; Religion and clinical medicine; Actual problems of bioethics and biomedical ethics in contemporary religious discourse; Religion as a social and spiritual determinant of individual and public health; Philosophy of religion and medicine: current challenges in the conditions of martial law.

The grey zone between freedom of belief and health risks: ethical and legal dilemmas of alternative therapeutic practices

Silvia Capíková — 2025-07-07

The children’s clinic of the faculty of medicine of Comenius university in Bratislava in the interwar period and the activities of religious sisters

Anna Falisová — 2025-07-07

Religion as a key determinant of students’ attitudes toward their studies

Margita Kollarova — 2025-07-07