THE SYNCRETISM OF BALTIC FOLKLORE AND CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS VALUES IN THE CONTEXT OF POSTHUMANISM

Abstract

In this study, we discuss and reflect on one of such serious epistemological problems or broad megatrends of reason - the rethinking of the essence of man, the necessity of which is reflected in posthumanism. Philosopher Michel Foucault speaks of the death of the humanistic definition of man and in the context of posthumanism requires not only to distort the concept of man in many discourses (evolutionary, ecological, technological), but also to examine these discourses in order to reveal the characteristic humanistic, anthropocentric, normative concepts of humanity and the concept of man.
The authors of this study represent a posthumanist approach to the need to rethink human nature and believe that research in this direction could help solve the crises described above, as well as provide significant new knowledge and contributions to future research. The question of this study is “How does the discourse of Baltic folklore and Christian religion describe and help rethink the relations between humans and non-humans?” Thus, the topic of this study is clearly related to the topic proposed by the Klaipėda Conference “Requirements and Challenges of Contemporary Society: Insights into the Present and the Future”.
The aim of the study is to identify and describe the possibilities of defining a person, the relationships between people and non-people, and the values ​​of Christianity and Latvian folklore in the context of posthumanism and ecophilosophy.
This article examines the principles of dialogism and multicentrism in Latvian folklore and in the context of Christianity, in order to reveal the synthesis of values ​​and the understanding of human nature in the perspective of dialogue, ethics, and cultural interaction. The main question of the study arises from the need to understand how traditional stories and religious discourses can help interpret the essence of a person, assessing each being as an independent valuable center. In addition, the study seeks to show how these values ​​can be relevant today, helping to deepen the ecological, ethical, and multicentric perception of the world.
The article emphasizes that the analysis of human nature is not limited to specific epochs or philosophical schools. Critical posthumanism shows that the essence of a person is infinite and unpredictable, and various historical and cultural discourses highlight only certain aspects of this essence. The philosophy of dialogue, based on the works of M. Buber, E. Levinas, P. Florensky and others, together with the principles of the Annals school mentality, allows us to understand the expression of collective consciousness and the interaction of man and the environment in a multicentric perspective. Dialogicity is understood here as a true Subject-Subject relationship, in which otherness is valuable in itself, and there is no place in the relationship for hierarchical or anthropocentric assessments.
In Latvian folklore, this concept is reflected in the protagonists of stories, most often “little people”, orphans or third sons, who interact with animals, birds and trees. In such stories, animals and plants are independent centers of existence, having a unique value, regardless of the needs of the protagonist. The protagonists often show mercy, share food, learn the languages ​​of animals and plants, cooperate with other beings and overcome various obstacles. Such interactions reflect the principles of dialogue, in which mutual respect and recognition of otherness are essential.
Christianity reinforces this worldview. Gospel parables, such as the Good Samaritan, teach that every individual, regardless of social status or nationality, has the right to moral recognition. God’s omnipresence and the goodness of being reinforce a multicentric vision of the world, and ethical norms and mercy become the most important indicators of action. Orthodox iconography demonstrates a collective mentality, visually revealing the common interactions of various independent centers of existence.
The results of the study showed that the principles of dialogism and multicentrism allow for a deeper understanding of the ethical, moral and ecological aspects of human interaction with the world. Latvian folklore tales and Christian teachings reveal common values: mercy, cooperation, respect for otherness and the ability to recognize the intrinsic value of each being. The archetype of the “little man” reveals that true human growth and transcendence occur not through social or material success, but through dialogical interaction and the creation of valuable relationships with the world and other living beings.
In summary, the study shows that there are points of contact in Latvian folklore and Christian discourse that emphasize multicentric reality, the importance of ethical behavior and the possibilities of dialogue with the world. This analysis strengthens our understanding of human values, moral responsibility and ecological awareness and demonstrates that traditional fairy tales can be a pedagogical tool for developing a holistic perception of the world.
The main conclusion of the article: based on the previous reflections, it can be concluded that expressions of Baltic folklore and Christian syncretism can be seen in Latvian fairy tales. A human being should be defined in the relevant discourse as a being who is in dialogical and equal relations with other beings in a polycentric worldview. Therefore, the use of fairy tales and other folklore groups in education, etc. could hypothetically help both the individual person and society as a whole to practically redefine the human being.