Abstract: This article analyzes the problems of philosophical nature associated with simulation of pain in electronic virtual reality (EVR). Unlike other sensations, pain is characterized by certain threshold value, which results in neurogenic shock with possible fatal outcome (for example acute cardiac insufficiency). The author reviews the possibility of neurogenic shock in EVR and the caused by it death of an individual in generating reality. It is demonstrated that the solution of problem depends on the method of simulation of pain used in generating of the electronic virtual reality. A comparative analysis of the possible ways of simulating pain is conducted. Film art dedicated to the problem of virtual reality serves as a spectacular example. The author suggest the typology of EVR depending on the method of simulation of pain; the three main types are determined: 1) with equivalent simulation; 2) with modified simulation; 3) with transgressive simulation. Mathematical algorithm of modified simulation of pain in electronic virtual reality with the “virtual invulnerability” and “virtual immortality” is proposed.

Abstract: A specific feature and megatrend of modern Western civilization is a so-called 'radical hedonism' (Erich Fromm's term). One of the elements of this 'mainstream' is the BDSM subculture that proves a latent 'desire for pain' typical for modern civilization (the fact that is 'masked' with specific kind of pleasure experienced in the course of role-playing games and ritualized actions). There are very few articles devoted to this phenomenon and the majority of them have a narrow focus. There is still the need in a broader look at the BDSM subculture and its relation to the 'radical hedonism' as a dominating principle. In his research Boyko provides a general philosophical analysis of prerequisites, functions, meanings and prospects of the BDSM subculture and its close relation to the 'radical hedonism'. The author defines the key role of pain in the process of an individual developing his or her views on the real world, his or her place in the world, consciousness and the feeling of his or her own Self. The more successful an individual escapes from pain, the more powerful the outbursts of pain and invasion of hedonistic 'life consumers' are. Domination of the sensual pleasure as the highest value makes pain as the main alternative value which leads to the spread of sadomasochism practices and pathological excesses as well as the growth of violence, social tension, and threat to individual health and society's well-being in general. 

Abstract: This article analyzes the arguments by means of which the Western European philosophers of the XIX century explained the qualitative asymmetry between the pain and pleasure. The anatomical and physiological confirmation of the existence of such asymmetry was acquired only in the XX century: pain represents an independent type of reception with a separate system of conductors and receptors (nociceptors); however, there is no specialized conductors and receptors of pleasure. Thus, the discovery of the qualitative asymmetry of pain and please represents a notable case of the successful philosophical “foresight”. The general philosophical interest contain the following question: why the success was achieved specifically in this area, and why it never gained the due recognition. As the examples of various approaches, the author considers the philosophies of pain and pleasure suggested by A. Schopenhauer, S. Freud, E. von Hartmann, and F. Nietzsche; as well as analyzes their arguments in confirmation of the asymmetry of pain and pleasure, source of doubts and theoretical controversies, and suggests formalization using the mathematical symbolics. The author proves that the recognition of the qualitative asymmetry of pain and pleasure was hindered by the linguistic obstacle – the circumstance, which states that in European languages, the pain and pleasure are the symmetric directions of single modality. This lead to multiple theoretical regressions and controversies in the views of A. Schopenhauer, S. Freud, E. von Hartmann, and F. Nietzsche upon the qualitative asymmetry of pain and pleasure. And therefore, the major philosophical discovery did not gain the due assessment.

Abstract: The subject of the research is the solution of the problem regarding the relationship betwen fiction and reailty by using the so called 'operator approach'. Boyko analyzes the reasons that encouraged researchers to introduce 'narrative operators' in the theory of literature, in particular, the 'fiction-operator'. He also analyzes arguments of Hector-Neri Castañeda against the operator approach as well as his thesis that the difference between fictional statements and reality statements is the nature of predication. Boyko analyzes the features of narrative approaches and introduces the term 'narrative-analytical operator' that has the feature of linearity. The main research method used by the author is the operator approach based on the analogy with the operator calculus in mathematics and natural sciences. It is demonstrated that the operator approach to the theory of literature has a great heuristical power and allows to formalize certain complex issues as well as to provide clear, strict and efficient solutions. The author proves that the ambivalency theory of Hector-Neri Castañeda does not oppose to the operator approach but on the contrary constitutes one of its logical consequences. It is stated that the operator approach is one of the most powerful instruments in the modern theory of literature. The author of the article also outlines a range of important issues that can be solved by the operator approach. 

Abstract: The subject of the research is the definition of literary terms 'realism', 'social realism', 'psychological realism' and 'metaphysical realism'. As a rule, texts that satisfy a number of criteria are considered to be realistic. However, such conventional approach creates numerious difficulties and contradictions. In particular, it does not allow to solve the problem of classification of 'realism in the highest meaning' as it was presented by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. There has been an opinion that the term 'realism' should be eliminated from the scientific discourse because it is too contradictory. The author of the present article offers an alternative approach to the definition of the term 'realism'. According to the author, realism is the effect created in the process of applying specific means of text interpretation. It is provede that relevant and logically uncontroversial combination of realism criteria is impossible. Thus, the conventional approach to the problem of realism is based on the wrong assumption. Based on particular examples, the author of the article develops and tries out the so-called three-operator method, i.e. abstract model of intepretation methods which application creates the effect of text realism. It is also demonstrated that the new approach does not create the difficulties and contradictions the conventional approach does.