« Березень 2024 » | ||||||
Пн | Вт | Ср | Чт | Пт | Сб | Нд |
1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
- 2013 Серпень
- 2013 Вересень
- 2013 Жовтень
- 2013 Грудень
- 2014 Березень
- 2014 Вересень
- 2014 Жовтень
- 2014 Листопад
- 2015 Січень
- 2015 Квітень
- 2015 Липень
- 2015 Серпень
- 2015 Жовтень
- 2015 Листопад
- 2015 Грудень
- 2016 Січень
- 2016 Березень
- 2016 Квітень
- 2016 Травень
- 2016 Червень
- 2016 Жовтень
- 2016 Листопад
- 2017 Квітень
- 2017 Травень
- 2017 Червень
- 2017 Липень
- 2017 Серпень
- 2017 Вересень
- 2017 Жовтень
- 2017 Листопад
- 2017 Грудень
- 2018 Січень
- 2018 Лютий
- 2018 Березень
- 2018 Квітень
- 2018 Вересень
- 2018 Листопад
- 2018 Грудень
- 2019 Лютий
- 2019 Вересень
- 2020 Травень
- 2021 Грудень
UDC 821.161.2. –
2.091 Kateryna Bogatyrova
Kyiv
THE THEME OF THE IDEAL RULER IN THE INTERPRETATION OF
STANISLAV ORIKHOVSKYI-ROKSOLAN AND HRYHORII SKOVORODA
Summary
The article deals with the theme interpretation
of the ideal ruler of Latin-speaking historian, publicist and prose writer of
the Renaissance Stanislav Orikhovskyi-Roksolan and philosopher Hryhorii
Skovoroda with humanistic and educational positions. Famous philosophers,
poets, cultural figures of different eras tried to construct the ideal model of
just government reign. They indicated that educated ruler with such virtues as
wisdom, justice, diligence, prudence, temperance could fulfil the state ruler
mission. The opinions of Italian and Ukrainian humanists concerning the issues
of relations of a man and a state became ideological base for Stanislav
Orikhovskyi, Ivan Ornovskyi, educators Hryhorii Skovoroda and Vasyl Kapnist,
who considered mental skills, education, sciences development as a basis for
social and human progress.
The eternal problem of a man
and a state, issues of just social order and the role of the ideal ruler
troubled thinkers, poets, writers during centuries in the world history and
literature. Ancient Greek philosopher Plato in his work "The Republic” thought
about the model of the ideal social order and constitution. His student
Aristotle, who was the personal tutor of Alexander the Great, in his work
"Politics” preached the idea of democratic republic and thought that "prudence was
the only distinguising virtue of the ruler”.
Renaissance artists and
H.Scovoroda creative works, their views on the state, culture, education,
science were studied in the works of Yu.Barabash, L.Batkin, L.Brahina,
I.Holenishchev-Kutuzov, I.Huzar, B.Kuznetsov, L.Ushkalov, V.Lytvynov,
V.Menshukov, F.Monie, D.Nalyvaiko, A.Ovett, V.Puryshev, N.Reviakina,
V.Rutenburh, O.Savchuk, V.Sokolov, D.Teteryna, Val.Shevchuk.
The purpose of this atricle
is to investigate understanding and interpretation of the ideal ruler theme in
the works of Latin language publicist of the XVIth century Stanislav
Orikhovskyi and "elitist writer” (the expression of Val.Shevchuk) of the second
half of the XVIII century Hryhorii Skovoroda from the stand point of humanistic
and educational principles.
Famous saying of Roman
philosopher Cicero "The people’s good is the highest law” was used by the
representatives of the Renaissance, who created the ideal of working man
capable for selfimprovement and development through active educational and
secular activity. Public needs were considered the most important, gained
experience of an individual and his practical skills should be used to
implement social achievements for the benefits of the people. Humanists
regarded permanent work as a continuous process of realization of human mental
and physical abilities which would be used for the state prosperity and
compatriots welfare.
Italian educator, logic
teacher Pier Paolo Vergerio (1370-1444) dedicated his treatise "On good
manners” (1402) to the son of the ruling lord Padua Umberto Carrara. In this
work the scientist focused on the pedagogical and educational principles that
facilitated appropriate education of the ruler, developed his ethical and moral
virtues such as generosity, justice, wisdom, temperance.
Prominent Italian leader of
the Renaissance Leon Battista Alberti (1404-1472) in the treatise "De
Iciarchia” expressed his views on the problem of moral principles of the state
leader. Well-known humanist, translator, philologist, teacher and theologian
Erasmus of Rotterdam (1467-1536), who was the adviser of Spanish king Charles
V, in the treatise "Education of a Christian Prince” (1516) stated that it was
better for a prince to be respected than feared.
Niccolo Machiavelli
(1469-1527), philosopher and writer, in the political treatise "The Prince”
(1518) outlined his role ruler vision. He thought that only because of his high
moral virtues such as wisdom, mind, charity and justice the ruler would deserve
support and respect of the people. N. Machiavelli’s opinions were based on
humanistic principles of the development and education spread in the country
and he said that the governor would take care of the citizens spiritual
priorities. As the scholar and thinker Machiavelli understood the importance of
science, culture and art for the general public good and further country
progress. The author stressed that the support of gifted and talented to
science citizens, especially young, was the prior government function of the
ruler.
Thus, scientists and
humanists developed moral and aesthetic principles for the ideal ruler, so he
would be educated, fair, wise, noble, judicious, charitable ruler, who ensured
laws implementation, supported and promoted education, science, art
development, strongly concerned about welfare, peace, social and spiritual
benefits for his citizens.
Naturally, the theme of
ideal ruler disturbed famous philosopher, rhetorican, historian of the XVI
century Stanislav Orikhovskyi-Roksolan (1513-1566) and was highlighted him in
Latin language works «Fidelis subditus sive de institutione regia ad
Sigismundum Augustium libri duo» (1543) and «De bello adversus Turcas
suscipiendo, ad Equites Polonos» (1544). Stanislav’s father was a secretary;
the boy had quick mind and good memory, then gained primary education in
Peremushl, so thanks to his natural mental abilities the young man became
famous scientist in Europe. Stanislav gained deep knowledge in the Krakow
University, the University of Vienna, the University of Padua, the University
of Bologna. He carefully studied Greek and Latin languages, rhetoric,
philosophy. His teachers were Reformation figure Martin Luther, theologian
Philipp Melanthon, who inculcated gifted student love to knowledge.
Stanislav Orikhovskyi
oriented on ethical and moral directives for the ruler which were developed by
Italian humanists. In the treatise «De bello adversus Turcas suscipiendo, ad
Equites Polonos» (1544) he denoted that internal conflicts weaked state power
and common danger united all citizens irrespective of their social status, so
king’s leader habits and his ability to unite all people for the common purpose
– native land liberation from Turkish
invaders – was the primary affair for the stateman. The most important virtues
for the king were sound sence, wisdom, justice; he should follow the Christian
commandments, take care of safety, welfare and protect people from outside
enemies. The treatise «Fidelis subditus sive de institutione regia ad
Sigismundum Augustium libri duo» (1543) was very popular in Europe, (it was
published twice in 1543 and in 1548) the author thought that education was the
biggest value for the ruler. The main role in the ideal ruler
upbringing belonged to the tutor, who was the best example for the student; Stanislav
remembered real historical persons (Aristotle taught Alexander the Great) and
mythical personage (Phoenix brought Achilles, the hero of Homer’s epic poem
"The Iliad”) to demonstrate his idea. The humanist thought wisdom the most
fundamental virtue, he advised the king to open new schools and renew
educational institutions which had already been established earlier by his
predecessors. A prerequisite for the country prosperity was keeping all
statutes and regulations, the author formed the model of the ideal state in
which the king was the law guarantor. Orikhovskyi rightly advised the monarch
to remove from himself sycophants, lustful, greedy, criminal and boastful people.
He blamed such human vices as tyranny, debauchery, drinking, sycophancy. In his
treatise the author gave the humanistic program of constitutional monarchy in
which the ruler was educated, fair, wise, prudent democrat, he protected his
subjects’ interests, rights, security and freedom. Thus Stanislav Orikhovskyi had
the common views with famous Italian humanists – Pier Paolo Vergerio, Leon
Battista Alberti, Niccolo Machiavelli, Erasmus of Rotterdam and in his work he indentified
the following factors that influenced the formation of king’s personality: 1) wise tutor; 2) the ruler strongly mastered sciences and
arts; 3) the ruler should be surrounded by the best citizens; 4) the king
ensured all laws compliance to his people; 5) the king took care of knowledge
spread and opened schools.
Ivan Ornovskyi (life years
are unknown) was the poet of late XVII – early XVIII centuries and the member
of Chernihiv poetical circle, organized by bishop Lazar Baranovych. In his book,
published in Kyiv in 1705, he speculated on eternal theme of good and evil in
the society and concluded that wisdom was the highest value. He blamed the actions
of despotic monarches in whose veins blew "Nero blood”.
Hryhorii Skovoroda (1722-1794),
one of the most famous graduaters of the Kyiv Mohyla Academy, was certainly
familiar with the works of ancient authors, Italian humanists, who were for him
inexhaustible source of wisdom, artistic taste and poetic mastery. He
translated Horace, Ovid, Sidronii Hosii. Humanist views on issues of public
relations of a person, a state and a ruler did not lose relevance in the late
XVIIIth century and were actual for the thinker, poet and educator Hryhorii
Skovoroda. According to the philosopher the society will be better when its
every citizen looks for himself through the knowledge of the inner world. He
thought that people should understand Christian behavior principles, be
moderate in all things, respect God, take care of soul purity. The poet
emphasized the idea of eternal Christian tenets adherence which were the main
ethical and moral standarts for all citizens. His pedagogical and aesthetic
guidelines Skovoroda presented in the letter written to his beloved student
Mykhailo Kovalynskyi. Hryhorii Savych was wise educator and tutor, he advised
Mykhailo to choose pious way in his life: love and constantly study different
subjects, learn life and the world, be worth citizen, have faithful and dutiful
friends, take care of fellow men. Thus Hryhorii Skovoroda continued European
humanists ideas in his poetry and epistolary heritage pointing to the great
formative role of moral principles for the rulers and citizens.
Well-known Ukrainian ode
writer, Skovoroda’s follower, Vasyl Kapnist in his first ode written in 1774 in
French, glorified Russian troops and great deeds of Katherine II. The first strophe of the ode –
the reference to God Parnassus, Appolo, who according to the legend, lived on
the mountain. The poet asked him to support his lyre and provide inspiration.
Classicists made aesthetic conception of state order, based on reigning monarch
ideal, who had high moral virtues: justice, wisdom, peace-making, judgement,
education, charity, loved and took care of his people. Therefore the author
pointed to Katherine’s mercy to her subjects (strophes 12, 13, 14), who honored
and followed laws. However, in the 15th stropha the poet proclaimed
thesis that people’s love was the real tribute to the kings. The opinion about
the reign of wise and just monarch we can find in Irynei Falkivskyi’s Latin
ode, dedicated to the visit of Paul I to Kyiv in 1798. Vasyl Kapnist continued
views of his predecessors – Renaisance humanist Stanislav Orikhovskyi and
philosopher Hryhorii Skovoroda, provided directions for the stateman and
advised him to be prudent and exemplary ruler; wisdom in poet’s understanding
was the most essential statemaking virtue for the imperor.
Thus prominent philosophers,
writers, poets, cultural figures of different eras tried to construct the ideal
model of just government reign. They indicated that only moral and educated
ruler with Christian virtues – wisdom, justice, diligence, prudence, temperance
could properly fulfil the state ruler mission. The views and opinions of
Italian and Ukrainian humanists concerning the issues of relations of a man and
a state posted in numerous treatises, became ideological base for Stanislav
Orikhovskyi, Ivan Ornovskyi, educators Hryhorii Skovoroda and Vasyl Kapnist, who
considered mental skills, education, sciences development as a basis for social
and human progress.