THE WORLDVIEW OF GRIGORY SKOVORODA AND PANTHEISM: AN EXPERIENCE OF UNDERSTANDING IN THE DOMESTIC HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY

The article discusses the nature of the worldview of G. Skovoroda, the first philosopher of the Russian Empire. The authors of this study consider the correlation of the pantheistic religious and philosophical doctrine and theology of Skovoroda. First of all, the article comprehensively analyses the arguments of opponents of the identification of Skovoroda’s philosophy and pantheism. In particular, the thesis on the difference between Skovoroda’s worldview and pantheism is considered on the basis of differences in ideas about God with the Dutch thinker Spinoza. At the same time, the authors present arguments against the credibility of this thesis. As a source, the article considers the philosophical treatises of G. Skovoroda, which set out the worldview of the Russian thinker. As follows from the analysis of Skovoroda’s writings, his teaching about God can be identified with the religious and philosophical doctrine of pantheism. In Skovoroda’s philosophy, God is not the creator, but an integral part of the universe - its immaterial mind and essence. Skovoroda considered substance as eternal and uncreated by God. The world is described as a mirage and a shadow of divinity. All this allows the authors to identify Skovoroda’s philosophy and idealistic pantheism.