The meaning-of-life universe of professor Nila Voloshyna: meaningmaking in scientific activity and textbook developmen

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the «meaning-of-life universe» of professor N. Voloshyna, an outstanding figure in Ukrainian literary education. The authors define the «meaning-of-life universe» as an integral space of personal and professional meanings, where scientific activity functions as a form of cultural and educational service. The study synthesises a classical sociological approach to the scientific ethos with the philosophical-anthropological dimension of a scientist's life. It is substantiated that N. Voloshyna's professional path embodies M. Weber's concept of «science as a vocation». The conceptual foundations include intellectual asceticism and ethical rigor, which align with R. Merton’s institutional imperatives of the scientific ethos: universalism, communalism, and disinterestedness. These objective norms are deepened through the effect of «semantic resonance», described by S. Krymskyi, where scientific knowledge becomes a vital personal meaning for both the researcher and the educator. H. Skovoroda's axiom of «congenial labor» transforms scientific inquiry from an external duty into an internal necessity. Special attention is paid to the methodology of textbook creation as a central component of N. Voloshyna's universe. The textbook is interpreted not merely as a methodical tool, but as a «cultural-methodological text» and a model of value-oriented dialogue between teacher and student. The article identifies the key components of her system: conceptual-value, structural-content, methodological (lesson modeling), and reflective-analytical blocks. The authors conclude that N. Voloshyna’s legacy remains methodologically significant for modern Ukrainian education, providing a foundation for the development of humanistic, value-oriented educational materials.

Keywords: N. Voloshyna; meaning-of-life universe; scientific ethos; semantic resonance; textbook creation; methodology of literary education; axiological approach; humanistic pedagogy.