On the Nature of Thought on the Basis of Ancient Russian Literature

Abstract

The article discusses the nature of thought according to the views of Old Russian scribes. The reconstruction of texts is carried out with the use of the methodology of the semiotic approach. The author draws parallels with the ideas of the thinkers of the Neoplatonic tradition and practicing ascetics. According to the ancient Russian code of texts "Palea Tolkovaya" (Explanatory Paleia) the power of thought is determined by the measure of moral purity. In the perception of achaic and medieval man in the visible surrounding nature, invisible living forces acted, which, depending on the symbolic language of a particular culture, had different names and were described in different ways. Human life was thought of as inseparable from the forces of nature and heavenly patrons. How was the communication between the inhabitants of the living universe understood? With the help of thought. In a clear and simple form, these ideas are explained in the Explanatory Paleia, which in the style of presentation can be attributed to the so-called folk science, at the same time, the analysis of the contexts of the Christian spiritual tradition reveals the connection of the text with the creations of Christian theologians and practicing ascetics. In a wider context, the article compares with the understanding of the nature of thought in Russian cosmism and in social communications in the digital age.