DMYTRO CHYZHEVSKYI ABOUT PLACE OF POSITIVISM IN HISTORY OF UKRAINIAN PHILOSOPHICAL THOUGHT

Abstract

Abstract. This article devoted to defining the specifics of Dmytro Ivanovych Chyzhevskyi’s (1894–1977), a founder of historic-philosophical Ukrainian studies view on the place of positivism in the history of Ukrainian philosophical thought. In the book “Philosophy in Ukraine. An attempt at historiography” (1926), Chyzhevskyi de-fines the theoretical and methodological principles of his own historic-philosophical research. These are the propo-sition that Ukraine does not yet have its “great philosopher”, as well as the need to take into account the cultural ties of Ukrainians with Slavic and non-Slavic neighboring nations, especially given the long statelessness of Ukraine. Positivism is recognized as related to materialism on the basis of their anti-philosophical nature. Their connection with revolutionary movements is emphasized. It is determined that the leading representative of positivism in Ukraine is Volodymyr Viktorovych Lesevych (1837–1905), who paid tribute to classical philosophy. Chyzhevsky’s second work on this topic is the appendix “My Reviewers” to the second edition of the first part of the book “Philoso-phy in Ukraine” (1929). In it, the thinker emphasizes the Ukrainian identity of, among others, Lesevich. Chyzhev-skyi’s third book – “Essays on the history of philosophy in Ukraine” (1931) represents the pinnacle of Chyzhevskyi’s historical and philosophical research. It emphasizes the vulgarization of positivism as a condition for its spread among the educated public of the second half of the 19th century. It is emphasized that Lesevych, in fact, rehabili-tates metaphysics. Other Ukrainian scientists close to positivism are named. The article shows that positivism is not decisive for either European or, in particular, Ukrainian philosophical thought. The subject of the study is Dmytro Chyzhevskyi’s point of view on positivism in Ukrainian philosophical thought. The author concludes that positivism, despite its transience, has become one of the factors in the formation of Ukrainian national identity.