The Theme of Giftedness in Ukrainian Philosophy of the Baroque Era

Abstract

The article examines the problem of giftedness in Ukrainian philosophy in the Baroque era. The manifesta
tion of the ideas of European humanism, the Reformation and the Enlightenment in the philosophical systems of 
Ukrainian thinkers of the Baroque period is shown. It is determined that Baroque is a peculiar way of life and 
at the same time a way of creating the spiritual sphere, a style of thinking and cognition, a certain cultural and 
ideological stage of development of a significant part of European peoples. In the science of that time, there is a 
transition from the principle of inertia, rest and statics of movement to the perception of the world in its dynam
ics and multifacetedness. In contrast to rationalistic-naturalistic classicism, Baroque consciousness is oriented 
towards a specifically irrational way of depicting the features of spiritual life. This equalizes the symbolic (irrational) and rational depiction of being. It is emphasized that in this context, on the border of irrational (symbolic) and rational depiction, human giftedness and talents find realization. Baroque is a transitional era that 
requires effective, productive, capable people, which are gifted individuals. They are represented by professors 
of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, who develop philosophy as a means of intellectual knowledge of man and nature. 
It is noted that Skovorodynov’s slogan “know yourself” is identical to the Socratic “doimonion”, which is es
sentially the “voice” of giftedness and talent. The Baroque depiction of God as the “source”, “light” of nature 
corresponds to giftedness, which is the “voice” of reason.