Participation of Mykhailo Rudnytsky in the work of Philological section of Shevchenko Scientific Society

Abstract

Participation of Mykhailo
Rudnytsky, a figure absolutely non-academic, spontaneous, skeptical of Ukrainian
science and the Ukrainian scientific environment, in the activities of the Shevchenko
Scientific Society, which at that time played the role of Ukrainian Academy of
Sciences – seems paradoxical and unexpected. However, it turned out to be
interesting, extraordinary and necessary for both the scientist and the Society.
According to the Chronicle of the Shevchenko Scientific Society, he was an
active member of the Philological Section and regularly delivered reports and
abstracts, sometimes quite resonant. Ye was its secretary, referent of scientific
meetings and discussions. In 1935 the Commission of Literary Studies was organized
as part of the Philological Section M. Rudnytsky was its chairman. He also took an
active part in editing the publications of the Society and others. The activity of the
scientist can be tracked by reports of the Chronicle of Shevchenko Scientific Society
of and protocols of the Philological section.
M. Rudnytsky's scientific interests in the late 1930s were directed to the
comparative studies, as well as to the theory and methodology of literary research.
Partly under the influence of scientific research of his ancient literary teacher Ostap
Ortvin. M. Rudnytsky was interested in the literary phenomenology, in particular, the
scientific ideas and theories of R. Ingarden. The subject matter of the essays delivered
by M. Rudnytsky at the meetings of the Literary Commission reflected the theoretical
search for the Professional Union of Polish Writers, of which Rudnytsky was a
longtime member and participant, and in the French literary journals «Les Nouvelles
litt?raires, artistiques et scientifiques» and «La Nouvelle Revue Fran?aise».
M. Rudnytsky's specific attitude to the humanities is one of the reasons for his
confrontation with the Philological Section of the Shevchenko Scientific Society.
Rudnytsky claimed that the humanities, and in particular literary studies, could not be
considered an academic science equivalent to the exact or natural sciences, because it
contains a significant share of subjectivity, does not operate on facts, does not rely on
experiments.