Beytulhikme Int J Phil 9 (2) 2019 Doi: 10.18491/beytulhikme.1477 Research Article: 437-451 ___________________________________________________________ Philosophy of a Name: Ukrainian Context ___________________________________________________________ Ad Felsefesi: Ukrayna Bağlamında SVITLANA KHYRIPKO Borys Grinchenko Kyiv University s o p h y GANNA IATSENKO o National Shipbuilding University Received: 04.03.2019Accepted: 27.06.2019 Abstract: The article is devoted to the spiritual content peculiarities issue in the process of proper nouns creation in spiritual Ukrainian culture. The true value of a name, as a philosophical, cultural, spiritual and historical phenome- non, is highlighted. The first aim of the work is to discover the specific features of names’ appearance and spiritual components by structural analysis and her- meneutic methodology in cross-sections of elite-sacral, elite-secular and folk names in ancient ethnic Ukrainian tradition. The second is to analyze the val- ued vectors of spiritual roots in name giving culture. The third is to draw atten- tion to the specific influence of Christianity on culture and symbolism of a name giving process. The last is to examine the current cross-section of the given problem. Keywords: Philosophy of name, values, spirituality, anthroponomy, Ukrainians, ethnic group, ethnic culture. © Khrypko, S. & Iatsenko, G. (2019). Philosophy of a Name: Ukrainian Context. Bey- tulhikme An International Journal of Philosophy, 9 (2), 437-451. Beytulhikme An International Journal of Phil ___________________________________________________________ Svitlana Khrypko Borys Grinchenko Kyiv University, Faculty of History and Philosophy, Dep. of Philosophy 04212, Kyiv, [email protected] Svitlana Khrypko National Shipbuilding University, IEDL, Department of Philosophy and Cultural Studies 54000, Mikolayiv, [email protected] 438 Svitlana Khrypko & Ganna Iatsenko Introduction A name contains some traits that are given to a person. It is a subject of proud, that can be lost, sometimes there are some arguments about its dignity, and in addition it happens to be disgraced in some cases. A name is a specific personal human title that is given to a person after a birth; it is a main attribute for a man that has often become his equivalent sym- bol. The name misspelling could become a reason for serious offence or motivation for a personal conflict. A name is a special word: “we consider s o p h y o it; we respond to it when we are applied to, therefore, a name is with us through all our life” (Savitska, & Savitski, 2012, p.5). A name which has embodied national tradition is precious and eternal heritage, absence of which counteracts future. “The proper nouns contain priceless historical sources and language memos” – claims the ancient names’ researcher S. Gubernachuk (Guber- nachuk, 2008, p.151). Among functional name meanings a researcher, first of all, highlights a function of determination, individualization, socializa- tion, a function of a personal place determination in a social structure (for instance, there were the names particularly given to lords in Kyivan Rus). Although ritual and magic name functions are crucial, especially functions of symbolic charm and protection. To continue the idea of a married couple researchers Savitsky: “Our predecessors thought that a name could determine a man’s fate, moreover it was a key to a man’s personality and vocation” (Savitska, & Savitski, 2012, p.5). A name is a value which is with a person when he has lost absolutely all property. Nevertheless, a name can be purposely changed, when a life is started again, thus values – “are the content of a personal micro world, in the case when macro world has temporary lost its sense. A valuable thing is something that in crucial situations of existence gives personal protection, which offers a sense of personal dignity… it’s an essence of a Beytulhikmeword An International from which Journal a oflife Phil begins when it begins from a blank sheet of paper” (Khrypko, 2009, p.11). A name is a creation of language culture; it is a folk phenomenon, which embodies the whole historical layer with all rises and falls; it is, in some sense, a flower that could be real and simultaneously transcendental B e y t u l h i k m e 9 ( 2 ) 2 0 1 9 439 Philosophy of a Name: Ukrainian Context united with ethnical memory, culture, history, national philosophy and mentality, etc. A name phenomenon combines with a concept of cultural and historical school, and responds to a methodological formula: “le grain (grain) – la plante (plant) – le fleur (flower), consequently in any essay “a flower” corresponds to “a plant”, “a plant” to “a grain” (Garasim, 2009, p.34-35). Appealing to a famous Ukrainian folklore theorist Gerasim, we try to highlight the major accents in the given methodological formula. In s o p h y other words, “a grain” in the formula is a national character, which in o some measure determines pace of ethnical history – “a plant”, “a plant”, in its order, determines “a flower”, particularly a historical event or exist- ence on a chronological gap creates a theme or special literature plot that responds to historical time and contains its reflection (Garasim, 2009, p.34). Any Ukrainian name-surname-and father name is a text that con- tains the whole epoch (for instance: - Bezsmertna Katherina Bogdanivna, where Bezsmertna (immortal) – kozak surname, Katherina – ethnical context of a Christian name Katherine, Bogdanivna – pagan name Bogdan (given by God). One more example, Knish Michailo Leonidovich, where Knish – is an ancient sacral name of a ritual loaf of bread made particularly in Christ- mas time, which could be eaten only by members of a family (Khrypko, 2011). Michailo came from Hebrew and translated “equal to God” (Skrip- nik & Dziatkivska, 1996, p.79). Leonidovich came from Greek and was widely spread after Christianization. The importance of such methodo- logical approach of studying folklore elements is in consideration of an “eternal” folklore issue, particularly the problem of interrelationships between national historical life and folklore as a metaphorical reality reflection (Garasim, 2009, p.35). Anthroponims (Proper nouns) have been the widely used lexical phe- nomenon among different nations for centuries (Gerasimchuk & Nechi- porenko, 2002, p.3). As long as a name of a nation has existed this nation Beytulhikme An International Journal of Phil has been alive, while a person’s name has been remembered he has been alive in human’s memory. Proper nouns (anthroponims) have come to be not only the witnesses of human history (particularly history can be learnt by names), but furthermore they are landmark symbols. A name has al- ways been equated with something or somebody, according to ancient B e y t u l h i k m e 9 ( 2 ) 2 0 1 9 440 Svitlana Khrypko & Ganna Iatsenko beliefs: a name is an essence of a thing and a man, namely it is a defining sign of a person; in other words nothing exists until a necessity in a name arises, and vice versa, when a necessity appears to destroy something completely, erase from memory the form-spell is used, for instance: “I wish his name not to exist anymore” (Zajvoronok, 2006, p.261). In this case we can address to modern versions of angry statements to compare: “I wish I haven’t heard his name!” or “Forget his name!”etc. A tradition to keep a name in memory even after a death of its hold- s o p h y o er connected with an ancient belief that until a name had not left a sphere of memory, a person that used to have it was still alive at least in human memory. Names acquire and embody mystical character due to old tradition, particularly to know somebody’s name and say it, mean to have power under that man. This fact explains a name’s role in spells and prays. Therefore, we can highlight such common phenomenon as a proper noun that is the oldest anthroponimical formation. Among the researchers of culture and history of Ukrainian names P. Chuchka, N. Dziatkivsky, V. Gerasimchuk, S. Gubernachuk, M. Khudash, G. Lozko, A. Nechiporenko, S. Savitska, O. Savitsky and L. Skripnik should be mentioned. The enumerated researchers have repre- sented the given issue with great devotion and consideration. Hence, their works embody “love to wisdom”. Moreover, such language culture scientists as I. Farion, I. Franko, I. Suchomlin and others appeal to the problem of names-surnames dual nature. Historical and linguistic context of the old names functioning is followed in the papers of G. Bulashov, O. Buriak, Y. Gerasim, S. Khrypko, S. Nalivajko, O. Voropaj, V. Zajvoronok and in other ethno cultural studies. The aim of the work is to highlight the specific and spiritual content of elite-sacral, elite-secular and folk names in ancient ethnic Ukrainian tradition with the structural analysis usage and hermeneutic methodology application. Moreover, the valued vectors of spiritual roots in name giv- Beytulhikme An International Journal of Phil ing culture are to be analyzed. The last task is to examine a current cross- section of the given problem. The semantic and sacral leadership in the process of Ukrainian names’ creation goes to such called “God given names”, or “God glorifica- tion names”. Such names are oriented on the idea of God glorification B e y t u l h i k m e 9 ( 2 ) 2 0 1 9 441 Philosophy of a Name: Ukrainian Context according to their sounding; the idea of names’ derivation from God’s will is followed. The idea of “Gods glorification” is a central one in ancient Slavic names. Slavic nation has got such name from Gods glorification, in this way such enthonim (the name of ethos, nation) is interpreted in Book of Veles. Moreover, it is a common name for all modern nations that have their roots in ancient Slavic tribes and nations.