UDC: 165.6/.8
https://doi.org/10.25198/2077-7175-2025-3-130


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CONTEMPORARY PROBLEMS OF REFLECTION THEORY

E. N. Gnatik1, V. M. Naidysh2
Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba, Moscow, Russia
1 e-mail: gnatik-en@rudn.ru
2 e-mail: v.naidysh@bk.ru

Abstract. In connection with the rapid development of cognitive sciences in epistemology, philosophy of consciousness, realistic concepts of cognition are actualized, and with them, interest in the theory of reflection, its current state, is growing again. The article analyzes the main paradigms of the theory of reflection, the paths of their historical development and its current problems. The importance of the transition from the subject-centric to the system-centric paradigm of understanding reflection is emphasized, in which it appears as a complex systemic process, the activity of which is predetermined by the structure and history of the reflecting system. It is noted that in biological evolution, the activity of reflection developed in the direction of increasing the subject’s control over the process of reflection itself, improving the ability to separate objective and subjective moments of reflection. On this path, two relatively independent subsystems of mental reality were formed – the image of the external environment and the image of the internal states of the subject’s psyche. With the help of memory, the image of the external environment was accumulated in external experience, which serves as the basis of cognitive reality. The image of internal states accumulated in internal experience, which is the basis of semantic reality, expressed by the sensory-emotional states of the subject, closely related to the need-motivational sphere of the psyche. In the light of the system-centric methodology, consciousness appears as an integral quality of the functional activity of the brain, emergent in relation to such activity.

Based on the system-centric methodology, the issues of synthesis of the principles of reflection and activity are analyzed, the content of the concept of the fundamental relationship of consciousness is revealed, the concept of semantic reality, the dialectic of cognitive and semantic functionals in the activity of consciousness are analyzed. It is emphasized that the semantic functionality of consciousness is formed on the basis of the needs, interests, goals of the subject and is able to manifest the personal context of consciousness, the subjective side of human life. The article shows that modern problems and dead ends of cognitive psychology are precisely associated with ignoring the patterns of the relationship between cognitive and semantic functionals in the activity of consciousness.

Key words: reflection, activity, knowledge, meaning, consciousness, values, cognitive psychology.

Cite as: Gnatik, E. N., Naidysh, V. M. (2025) [Contemporary problems of reflection theory]. Intellekt. Innovacii. Investicii [Intellect. Innovations. Investments]. Vol. 3, pp. 130–140. – https://doi.org/10.25198/2077-7175-2025-3-130.


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