Page 33 - IJSA, Vol. 3, No 1, 2020

рrint ISSN: 2617-2682; online ISSN: 2707-3637; DOI:10.26697/ijsa IJSA

The moral principles of the fraternity were formed Vernadsky played an outstanding role in the formation
largely under the influence of the works by Leo Tolstoy, of a modern scientific picture of the world. At the center
his ideas of goodness and truth. V. Vernadsky sincerely of his natural science and philosophical interests is the
admired Leo Tolstoy’s teachings and shared many of his development of a holistic doctrine of the biosphere,
doubts. However, Leo Tolstoy did not believe that living matter (which creates the Earth’s shell) and the
science could help man find the “meaning of life”, to evolution of the biosphere into the noosphere in which
come to terms with the inevitability of death, to justify the human mind and activity, scientific thought become
high moral principles. It is unlikely that such ideas were a determining factor in development, a powerful force
close to V. Vernadsky. Unlike Tolstoy, he was comparable in its influence on nature with geological
convinced of scientific knowledge all his life and strove processes. Vernadsky’s doctrine on the relationship
to find an answer to many questions of being based on a between nature and society influenced the formation of
logical analysis of facts and true knowledge about the modern environmental consciousness.
world and man (Balandin, 1979). V. Vernadsky wrote in
his diary: “We had L. N. Tolstoy – we had a long Discussion
conversation with him about ideas, the science, etc. He The growth period of Vernadsky during the second half
said that he was considered a mystic, but he was rather of the 19th century falls on the time of the intensification
a mystic. And I would be glad to be one but skepticism of the political consciousness of progressive public
prevents me from this. I think that Tolstoy’s doctrine is figures, the active development of industry, the abolition
much deeper than it seemed to me at the beginning. And of serfdom, economic growth, the development of
this depth was in the following: 1) the basis of life is the culture, the awakening of Ukrainian national thought,
search for truth, and 2) the real task is to express this populism, as well as the prohibition of teaching in
truth without any concessions” (Vernadsky, 1988a, Ukrainian, printing books in Ukrainian and the
p. 7). authorities’ attempts to level Ukrainian national
Studying in his second year, V. Vernadsky met officer traditions. These factors influenced the progressive
Pokhitonov and had friendly relations with him. He was strata of the society to which the Vernadsky family
a member of the underground military organization belonged.
Narodna Volya. However, it is not known for sure if If we compare the economic and social situation of the
Volodymyr Ivanovych knew about this. However, family in the 19th century, it depended on which layer
Pokhitonov familiarized Vernadsky with illegal of society the family belonged to. The Vernadsky family
literature. Later, Volodymyr Ivanovych made an entry came from a noble kin. It should be noted that the family
in his diary about Pokhitonov: “He left an indelible mark is a rather closed circle of people. However, at the same
on my life and had a great influence on my worldview time, it is an integral institution of the life of society. The
... I did not know a better person, deeper mind, kinder family influences relations in society, the nature of all
heart, and there was no person who had bigger influence processes of social life. V. I. Vernadsky’s parents had
on me, excluding my father and uncle E. M. Korolenko quite progressive views on the development of society,
who taught his nephew to love to nature” (Mochalov, the economy and the socio-political situation as a whole.
1982, p. 33). So, Volodymyr Vernadsky had the opportunity to get the
best education both at home and abroad. Also, the views
of the parents influenced the formation of Vernadsky’s
personality. In the Vernadsky family dominated the cult
of the Decembrists and a negative attitude towards
autocracy and serfdom. The numerical circle of
progressive figures in science, economics, politics, art,
etc., influenced the development of the personality of
Volodymyr Ivanovych. He was fond of scientific
activity but believed that a scientist cannot stand aloof
from public life, be outside of it. So, V. Vernadsky, like
his father, was actively engaged in scientific and social
activities.
In his student years, the outstanding scientists
Mendeleev, Dokuchaev and the famous writer Tolstoy
had the greatest influence on shaping Vernadsky’s
views. Also, his teachers, among whom also were
outstanding scientists Beketov, Butlerov, Sechenov and
others, inspired him to research. Volodymyr Vernadsky
inherited a broad scientific approach and high ethical
Figure 6. Volodymyr Ivanovych Vernadsky. standards.

From the beginning of the 20th century, V. Vernadsky Thus, we can say that the development of
(see Figure 6) occupied a prominent place in the V. I. Vernadsky’s personality and views was influenced
scientific community and political life of Russia. He by his social environment, communication with highly
maintained active scientific and personal ties with intelligent people in the family, a wide range of
scientists around the world. The ideas of Volodymyr communication with prominent personalities while

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