Abstract: Philosophical practice in the "Plato's cave"
This article represents an extensive review of the book by the American philosopher-practitioner Ran Lahav "Stepping out of Plato's Cave: Philosophical Counseling, Philosophical Practice and Self-Transformation” (2 ed., Hardwisc, Vermont (USA): Loyev Books, 2016, 226 p.). The book under review is the fruit of more than twenty years of the author's work in the field of philosophical practice. Leaning on the content of the book, the article carries out a meticulous analysis of the evolution of movement of the philosophical practice, content of the main approaches and methods applied in philosophical practice, relationship between the philosophical practice and psychotherapy, as well as the author’s original theory. The work is based on the comparative-historical method and a critical analysis of the theory of philosophical practice of Ran Lahav with reference to his main complitaions. This detailed peer review allows the Russian readers to familiarize with the basic ideas Ran Lahav’s book, which has yet to be translated into the Russian language. The described in the article original methodology of the author of the book under review, can be implemented in the practice of philosophical counseling and adjusted to the Russian philosophical tradition.

Abstract: This article is intended for those who would like to learn practicing philosophy in everyday life for improving its quality, making efficient decisions, establishing communication skills,  as well as ability to find a peaceful solution to the conflicts. Philosophical practice can be integrated into the ordinary lifestyle of a human, while philosophizing can be of practical value. Philosophizing can carry a therapeutic (psychological component) alongside developing (intellectual component) functions, which mutually complement each other. Practicing philosophy, philosophizing can be realized differently. However, an effective guidance can consist not in the “scholastic” academic tradition, but rather such worldview questions and issues that are present in the ordinary life. The goal lies in the ability to raise these issues to the level of philosophical reflection. The scientific novelty of this wok substantiates that philosophy can be presented as combination of the principles and practical skills, which a person have at their disposal or put at disposal of other to manifest care for the self and others (in existential perception). In addition to this, philosophical practice can influence the dominant academic philosophy in a sense that can provide a necessary advantage for the critical examination of philosophizing from the perspective of its importance in the daily life.  

Abstract: This article is intended for those who would like to learn how to practice philosophy in everyday life to improve its quality, to make effective decisions, to establish communication skills, ability to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. Philosophical practice, philosophizing can be different. However, an effective guide for those who wish to take advantage of this form of practice, is not a “school” academic tradition, but philosophical issues from everyday life. The problem lies in the ability to raise these issues at the level of philosophical reflection and contemplation. Philosophical practice can be integrated into the everyday way of life and philosophizing can have practical significance. Philosophizing can carry out therapeutic function (psychological component) or developmental function (intellectual component); these functions complement each other.

Abstract:



The subject of this research is the ontological and epistemological foundations of Daseinanalysis. The author compares the contribution made by Kant, Kierkegaard, Husserl, Heidegger, and Jaspers into establishment of the theoretical foundation of Daseinanalysis. The main methods of application of Daseinanalysis within the philosophical practice and existential psychotherapy are being described. The article presents the meditation techniques, put together by the author on the methodologies of Binswanger and Yalom, which can be applied in philosophical practice. The article examines the human ability to design world and the main types of relationships between the human and the world. The main conclusion of the research conducted by the author is that Daseinanalysis as a philosophical practice does not recognize any preliminary systems as "privileged" in characteristic of a human, other than those existential structures which phenomenologically are being detected or reported by a human himself. Transcendental structure of the "existential a priori" is the key towards understanding of the world of any man, because it represents a semantic matrix in which all phenomena are in the proper place.

Abstract: What is naive philosophizing of childhood and what is its particularity? Synthesizing concepts “naivety” and “philosophizing” the authors of the article come to the concept of “naive philosophizing”. This philosophizing is not the kind overstepping the bounds of ordinary-practical knowledge and, moreover, rooting in mythical consciousness, but the one comprising reflective, existential and critical components. As a matter of fact it is a self-reflection of a myth done by all possible intellectual means, where the myth remains a symbol of unity, pleasure, knowledge and belief. Beginning with such conceptual affects as surprise, doubt, experience of existential conditions, naive philosophizing finds direct continuation in the intellectual game as the form of communication. We consider communication as a necessary condition of realization of naive philosophizing; therefore the best way of its realization is the live conversation in the form of a dialogue or a polylogue provoked by spontaneous asking. Naive philosophizing acts as an attempt of rational comprehension of a myth; however the myth remains the principal means of perception of the world and world-view.

Abstract: The article 'Scherzo or Science and Mind' is the forth publication of the series 'Symphony of Science or Science Through the Eyes of Philosophers'. The present article is a sympophonic absorbption in the external and internal polemics regarding the main interpretations of classical science and its scope of problems. Many contradictions and conflicts faced by the modern society derive from blind belief in scientific progress. The social institution of science itself has turned into a series of rituals long ago. This creates numerious illusions about science and its scope of problems and forms an uncritical attitude to the process and outcome of scientific research. The article is written in the form of a dialogue which allows to transform the 'internal' scientific polemics into 'external'. This method also allows to define many contradictions and dramatic moments in scientific development and to see the 'other side' of it behind the beautiful and pretentious facade. 

Abstract: The article 'Rondo or Science and Nature' is the third publication of the series 'Symphony of Science or Science Through the Eyes of Philosophers'. The present article is a sympophonic absorbption in the external and internal polemics regarding the main interpretations of classical science and its scope of problems. Many contradictions and conflicts faced by the modern society derive from blind belief in scientific progress. The social institution of science itself has turned into a series of rituals long ago. This creates numerious illusions about science and its scope of problems and forms an uncritical attitude to the process and outcome of scientific research. The article is written in the form of a dialogue which allows to transform the 'internal' scientific polemics into 'external'. This method also allows to define many contradictions and dramatic moments in scientific development and to see the 'other side' of it behind the beautiful and pretentious facade. 

Abstract: The article 'Scherzo or Science and Mind' is the forth publication of the series 'Symphony of Science or Science Through the Eyes of Philosophers'. The present article is a sympophonic absorbption in the external and internal polemics regarding the main interpretations of classical science and its scope of problems. Many contradictions and conflicts faced by the modern society derive from blind belief in scientific progress. The social institution of science itself has turned into a series of rituals long ago. This creates numerious illusions about science and its scope of problems and forms an uncritical attitude to the process and outcome of scientific research. The article is written in the form of a dialogue which allows to transform the 'internal' scientific polemics into 'external'. This method also allows to define many contradictions and dramatic moments in scientific development and to see the 'other side' of it behind the beautiful and pretentious facade.