Electronic Library of Scientific Literature
Electronic Library of Scientific Literature
Vaclav CERNIK
Faculty of Arts, Comenius University, Gondova 2, 818 01 Bratislava,
Slovakia
Jozef VICENIK
Institute of Philosophy, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Klemensova
19, 813 64 Bratislava, Slovakia
Emil VISNOVSKY
Department of Social and Biological Communication, Slovak Academy
of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 842 06 Bratislava, Slovakia
Based on the recognition of the contemporary global crisis of thought and on the observation of some major tendencies within the development of modern science and culture, the authors put forward the idea of the "non-classical type of rationality". They consider it to be one of the historical possibilities that might radically transform the fundamentals of our human world, in fact this process has already begun. The paper explores some of the main features of this process such as, e.g. formation of a new type of scientific object, new conceptual schemes, new logical and methodological arsenals of scientific research, new understanding of human nature, human mind, human action, and social order.
pp. 97-109
Emil VISNOVSKY
Department of Social and Biological Communication,
Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 842 06 Bratislava,
Slovakia
The author considers the problem of social order to be the other
side of the problem of human individual and human nature because
the purpose of any social order is to make human coexistence possible
(although, as is being argued, no type of social order has resolved
the latter issue in a satisfactory way). This means that the question
"How is social order possible?" should rather be explicitly
articulated as follows: "How is social order possible particularly
with respect to such beings as humans are?"
Such a question is sometimes neglected or considered already resolved
within social philosophy. But according to the author's standpoint,
philosophical anthropology constitutes prolegomena to any social
philosophy. He points out that the roots of any social order exist
in human nature which is not merely sociobiological but also sociocultural
concept (i.e. cultural identity of any particular community is
crucial for the shape of its social order). The author further
takes social philosophy as a normative discourse. He argues that
no social order can exclusively be spontaneous or unintentional.
On the contrary, there is a special group of individuals who are
responsible for its creation. The creation of social order is
perhaps the most important and complex of all human creations.
It is hardly possible without some compatibility of human needs,
ends, values and intentions, without relevant knowledge of human
nature and some fundamental ethical prerequisites, such as good
will.
pp. 110-118
Jan ALBRECHT
Kapitulska 1, 811 01 Bratislava, Slovakia
The art of poetry is based on general conceptual language whose
a priori role is not to serve artistry. Since a poetic element
represents a special form of thought, which does not have its
own specific medium, it is applied even in conceptual medium only
under certain preconditions. The artistic element is manifested
in any other kind of thought through association and conjunction
of ideas and visions; however, it takes on a special form in poetry.
The peculiarity of the artistic ways of thought in poetry is thus
built on the basic level of conceptual language and thought which
is approached by artistry as a manifestation of specific intention.
This is part three of the Spiritual World of Beauty. Part
one was published under the above- mentioned title in Volume 4,
No. 2 of Human Affairs last year and part two - The Media of
Art - appeared in the first issue of the journal this year.
pp. 119-136
Jana PLICHTOVA - Elena BROZMANOVA
Department of Social and Biological Communication,
Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9,
842 06 Bratislava, Slovakia
Three methods are used in order to explore social representations of the state, nation, democracy and human rights of two Slovak generations: (1) free associations to the 40 political and economic concepts, (2) rating of the same terms on a five-point scale with respect to their importance from the perspective (i) of individuals and (ii) of society and (3) questionnaire. The sample of respondents (N=200) is selected on the basis of the combination of three two-levels variables: generation (18-23, 40-45), education (with and without middle education) and gender. The data are interpreted with respect to the distinction between liberal vs. ethnic nationalism.
pp. 137-158
Pavol PETRUF
Historical Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences,
Klemensova 19, 813 64 Bratislava, Slovakia
The aim of the article is to indicate to which issues of the development in Slovakia between 1944 and 1948 French diplomacy paid primary attention and how they were interpreted by its representatives.
pp. 159-169
Alena POTASOVA - Olga AROCHOVA
Institute of Experimental Psychology, Slovak Academy of Sciences,
Dubravska cesta 9, 813 64 Bratislava, Slovakia
In our research, which is projected for several years, we are studying a selected group of children (n=83), aged 8-10 years, who have been living in an area polluted by toxic emissions (As, Cd, Pb, Cl, SO[_x], NO[_x]) since their birth. Comparing the affected group (AG) with the control one (CG) (n=81) we found a certain performance impairment in short term memory and attention tests. A deeper insight into basal cognitive mechanisms was made possible by the use of some experimental methodological procedures in field research. Analysing the findings confirmed that this problem is greatly affected by quality of life.
pp. 170-183
Xenia CELNAROVA
Institute of Oriental and African Studies, Slovak Academy of
Sciences,
Klemensova 19, 813 64 Bratislava, Slovakia
The history of human thought witnesses permanent attempts at defining the ideal human existence. A search for the paths to reaching a higher standard of human being and cognition is also characteristic of Islamic mysticism. Theosophic works of the great Sufis emphasize self-knowledge, self-improvement and self-awareness as the starting point of the path leading to the essential oneness with God. The Perfect Man - al-Insan al-kamil - is the one who has achieved the goal, return of the created being to the Absolute being.
pp. 184-192