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Human and Uncertainty in the Course of History

https://doi.org/10.25205/2658-4506-2024-17-1-132-149

Abstract

This study argues that uncertainty is a fundamental and enduring characteristic of human existence throughout history, not solely a feature of postmodern society. It aims to explore the psychological dimensions of uncertainty and trace the evolution of human responses to it. Employing a historical and psychological framework, the study explores humanity’s engagement with uncertainty from prehistoric magical thinking to the contemporary risk society. This essay includes numerous illustrations from literature and the visual arts, providing an opportunity to examine the attitude towards uncertainty through human creative activity. Particular attention is given to the transformation and representation of uncertainty in the life of society. While uncertainty persists as a fundamental existential condition linked to human existence, the postmodern era witnesses its qualitative shift: uncertainty grows into pervasive everyday reality, deeply embedded in economics, politics, and personal identity.

About the Author

L. V. Pecherina
Novosibirsk State University
Russian Federation

Liubov V. Pecherina, a Bachelor of Psychology, V. Zelman Department of Medicine and Psychology

Novosibirsk



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Review

For citations:


Pecherina L.V. Human and Uncertainty in the Course of History. Reflexio. 2024;17(1):132-149. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.25205/2658-4506-2024-17-1-132-149

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ISSN 2658-4506 (Print)
ISSN 2658-6894 (Online)