On December 18, Kyiv hosted an open meeting with Serhiy Chaplygin “In Defense of Our Identity” organized by the Ukrainian Institute for Conservative Researches and Innovations (UICRI). The lecture became a real center of deep philosophical reflections and discussions, bringing together representatives of the Ukrainian academic community, intellectuals, public figures, experts, journalists and everyone who cares about the fate of modern society. The meeting touched upon complex but vital topics that are relevant to Ukraine today. UICRI expert, philosopher and public figure Serhiy Chaplygin drew attention to the global challenges of our time, in particular, the identity crisis, which encompasses not only cultural or national foundations, but also the fundamental understanding of human nature. “We live in a time when there is a final transition from humanism to posthumanism. This is not just a change of ideas or philosophical concepts, but a profound shift in the perception of the very essence of man. Preparations for this have been going on for decades through the gradual liberation of the individual from all forms of collective identity: religious, national, and sexual. The next step may be the final liberation of a person from human identity,” the lecturer emphasized. The lecture also discussed the challenges that society faces on the way to rethinking human nature, deepened their understanding of “liberal freedom” and whether it has really led to the destruction of collective identities and whether the struggle for freedom of choice is becoming a new form of coercion to change the very essence of man. Serhiy Chaplygin paid much attention to the question of the future of human identity. Specifically, the question of how to preserve humanity in a world that seems to be seeking to strip away the very foundations of human nature. In addition, the participants discussed the spiritual origins of human nature. “Man always remains free. But true freedom is not only the right to be free, but also the ability to overcome sin, error, or crisis in order to return to one’s spiritual foundations. Today, more than ever, we need a serious religious and philosophical rethinking of what it means to be human,” emphasized Chaplygin. Mykhailo Shevchenko, director of the Ukrainian Institute of Contemporary Culture, thanked all those present for their active position and indifference to the topics raised. “Your desire to understand the modern world and influence its future is proof that a person is able to remain dignified even in times of great challenges,” said Mykhailo Shevchenko.
This lecture demonstrated not only a high level of interest in the topics of spirituality and identity, but also the importance of open discussions. In a world where rapid change raises many questions, such meetings help us to comprehend reality more deeply, find answers to important challenges of our time, and return to the spiritual origins that define our essence.
