Hryhorii Skovoroda and Western European Philosophy: Between the Banks of Mysticism and Rationalism

The main purpose of this article is to establish links between the teachings Hryhorii Skovoroda and leading trends in Western philosophy his time. Since anticipated influences, similarities parallels are mostly implicit, study identify common motives for thinking, rather than direct dependence. Nevertheless, biggest difficulty analysis that it not easy enroll a Ukrainian philosopher any modern intellectual movement. That why place somewhere at crossroads mystical rationalist backgrounds. Initially, author compares views German mystics with concepts Skovoroda. But way thinking Meister Eckhart Jacob Böhme – two prominent agents kind mysticism analyzed more detail. Mystics influenced emergence European Freemasonry, movement was established Ukraine Skovoroda’s period. However, clear whether himself accepted these ideas. Further focus inquiry on Enlightenment. question is: can be considered as Enlightenment thought? To find an answer question, dissimilar representatives era, Immanuel Kant, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, were chosen comparison Finally, Søren Kierkegaard shows prospects development later thought. In keeping time, which there room opposing pursuits, does avoid rational principles. Where logicalrational language seemed him unsuitable powerless, he resorted symbolism, bypassing artistic literary means expression. betray mind sake irrational. rationalism fundamentally determine thinking. He skeptical about spread science general education. According him, knowing world still enough social harmony, while education begins self-knowledge. Visible nature only hints hidden truth. At same enlightening reasoning cannot fully rejected aspect teaching. instead absolute project mind, offers individual project, when knowledge man universe correlates each other. And achieved through discovery one’s own personality.