2012 Selected articles

The formation of science and its separation from metaphysics are among the key characteristics of the early modern period. This separation faces a particular problem with conceptualization of body, which, while being a physical body, is closely bound  up with spirit. Different ways of explaining the interaction between mind and body form a complex tradition, which has significantly influenced Kant’s pre-Critical writings. Reducing that crucial distinction between two substances to the empirical sphere and the interpretation of soul and body as homogeneous phenomena are the main peculiarities of Kant’s position.

Kant insisted on the inherent unity of a priori and empirical elements of cognition. To what extent further progress of philosophy and exact sciences confirmed (or modified) original Kant ideas? I'm inclined to judge that apriorism in its modest version does not contradict a modest type of empiricism. Real practice of logical and mathematical reasoning provides pry conjunctions of a priori and empirical elements of cognitive processes. We can find the harmonic combinations of mentioned standpoints and thus to confirm the validity of Kant’s idea related to inherent unity of a priori and empirical elements within contemporary philosophy of science. Apriorism along with empiricism contains powerful heuristic potential.

This article offers an aanalysis of the concept of mystical experience and its relation to science and philosophy in connection with E. A. Torchinov's research and in the context of Kant's doctrine of human "metaphysical disposition", the nature and purpose of philosophy.

The analysis of Rawls’ anthropological model, underlying his theory of justice, reveals its complex basis: on one hand, it is an attempt to attach broader and deeper Kantian philosophical foundations to “rational egoist” of classical utilitarianism (idea of autonomy, ability of self-determination through moral law); on the other hand, the notion of “life plan”, emphasizing rationality of human interests and actions and opening a possibility for happiness, connects Rawls’ theory to Aristotle’s virtue ethics and to contemporary communitarianism.

The article raises the question about the Kantianism of E. T. A. Hoffmann displayed in the story from “The night stories”, which shows that the transcendental reflection as an important gnoseological procedure has important practical sense in the human life.

This article is dedicated to the ideas, expressed in manuscript R 3706, where Kant criticizes traditional refutation of ontological argument, which is based on distinction of “ideal” and “real” judgments. The relation of this criticism to Kant’s argumentation in “Nova dilucidatio” and the preceding polemic over ontological argument is analyzed.

The article is dedicated to the analysis of the development of neo-Kantianism in Russia. Russian neo-Kantianism is marked with originality, which was due to the cultural and historical peculiarities of the formation of the national philosophical thought. The stages and specific character of the development of Russian neo-Kantianism are considered by example of the creation of A. I. Vvedensky, B. V. Yakovenko and V. E. Sesemann.

This article tells the story of how Kant's death mask ended up in the Museum of Classical Antiquities of the University of Tartu.

This article is the second part of the research concerning the publications of Russian scholars in Kant-Studien, the leading periodical dedicated to Kant studies and the most important print of the International Kant Society. The article describes the history of publications of Russian authors from 1974 to 2008.