Interpretive possibilities of Giambattista Viko’s historical process model

Abstract

Background. The work analyzes the interpretive possibilities of the historical process model, proposed by the Italian intellectual G. Vico in the “Foundations of a New Science of the General Nature of Nations” work. The current level of comprehension of this topic is analyzed, an algorithm for considering Vico’s concept is proposed. Materials and methods. The analytical principles of the system theory were applied in the context of the idea that a distinctive feature of a complex social whole is not only the presence of its own structure, formalized at the level of statics, but also a dynamic component, such as proces-ses that constantly change the initial social basis. Interpretive capabilities of Vico’s volumi-nous work, which has been translated to Russian for a long time, are updated taking into account modern theory. Besides, the ideas of N. Luhmann related to systems theory are taken into account. Results. Vico’s interpretive model of historical process is analyzed in connection to the stages of organization, complication and subsequent formalization of the social system. The explanatory possibilities and terminological apparatus characteristic of the society’s perception as a non-equilibrium structural model are used. Conclusions. The characteristic of G. Vico’s explanatory model proposes an interpretive scheme based on the perception of society as a complex non-equilibrium system, taking into account the irreversibility of the dynamics in large human communities. The recommended scheme is multidimensional and can be supplemented.

Keywords

• vico giambattista
• society
• social dynamics
• system theory of n. luhmann
• interpretation model