From a tradesman to an entrepreneur: the Ukrainian business leaders’ values transformation in XIX and early XX centuries

Abstract

The interdisciplinary nature of studying the Ukrainian business leaders’ values transformation in XIX and early XX centuries is justified. It is explained by globalization conditions and a research subject’s belonging to objects of lots of sciences: education history, history, philosophy, culture, sociology, ethnography, biology, psychology and is provided via practicing a number of scientific approaches: cultural studies (within confines – geo-cultural, ethnocultural, sociocultural, biographical, typological), psychologic-sociological, historical-sociological, historical-philological, narrative, hermeneutic etc. It characterizes cultural, national, mental, religious and other peculiarities of forming education ideals system for Ukraine’s entrepreneurial status in the XIX-early XX century. Ethnonational differences in forming Ukraine’s peoples’ insights in values and ideals of entrepreneurial activity are revealed.
The Ukrainian business leaders’ image transformation reasons at a time of study are analyzed. The attention is focused on the characteristics of the Ukrainian entrepreneurs’ most significant values (faith, family, education, localism) and virtues (tolerance, moderation, restraint, social responsibility). The reasons of religious and moral dominance in educational ideal for local entrepreneurs are revealed (socio-economic situation unsustainability for a new entrepreneurial stratum, the religion dependent critical look at trading activity, personal conflict between human desire for enrichment and its Christian denial). The main changes in local entrepreneurs’ attitudes to education are substantiated (education as prestige has been transformed into education as a condition of financial security and economical mode of thinking).