FRANCOPHONE RESEARCH WORKS ON HRYHORII SKOVORODA (1820s — 2010s)

The paper presents significant facts concerning the French-language interpretation of the writings by Hryhorii Skovoroda (1722—1794). Having begun as far back as the 1820s, 34 years following the philosopher’s death, Francophone presentations of Skovoroda’s works and ideas offered interesting reflections on the extraordinary talent of the Ukrainian philosopher. The desire of both French and Ukrainian literary scholars of the French diaspora to familiarize the wider public with Skovoroda's legacy resulted in numerous publications in Francophone editions from the 1920s—1930s and the second half of the 19th century. The paper also takes into account anthology-type Francophone editions of Ukrainian literature that present individual samples of Hryhorii Skovoroda’s works. Additionally, it examines the 1973 Paris Skovoroda Colloquium, including interpretations focusing on Platonic elements in the Ukrainian philosopher’s works, particularly his ideas of self-cognition and pre-personalism. Many works emphasized that H. Skovoroda was a typical impersonation of Ukrainian mentality and spirituality, serving as an archetype of the Ukrainian people in terms of their deepest psychological roots. He was interpreted as a philosopher who was a spokesman for his people. Valuable multifaceted research works on H. Skovoroda’s legacy emerged in the 1920s, during the period of the “Ukrainian National Revival,” when Skovoroda’s main point, that is Socratic desire “to know oneself,” proved to be particularly relevant. French-language research works on the legacy of Skovoroda arose interest to the Ukrainian philosophy in general.