Abstract

The article discusses two main topics: what humanistic research and the humanities are and what are the features of the ontological basis of this science. The characteristics of these foundations, which were proposed by V. Dilthey (in the interpretation of A.S. Ogurtsov), are given: history, life and the triad “experience, expression, understanding”. The author tests this basis for adequacy, correlating these characteristics with the reflection of his own humanitarian research. As a subject of reflection, two author’s studies are used (the life and personality of A.S. Pushkin and the story “The Young Lady-Peasant Woman”). At the end of the article, the author proposes to separate the characteristics related to humanitarian research and the humanities proper, and to pose the question of the ontological foundation of the humanities in a different way (to give not only definitions of the ontological foundations, but also to indicate how the researcher works, from what methodology he comes out).

Keywords

humanities, research, personality, text, work, spirit, interpretation, understanding, experience, expression