Progressivism as a variety of eschatological myth

The article explores progressivism as a continuation of the eschatological tradition within European rationalism. It analyzes how the ideas of linear progress, formulated during the Enlightenment, became a secularized version of religious eschatological concepts. It examines how modernity, despite its rationalist orientation and scientific criteria, itself develops apocalyptic motifs of salvation in the form of science and technological advancement. A comparative analysis of scientific rationalism and the eschatological myth reveals their structural similarities. As a contrasting element, the “palingenetic myth” is also considered, offering deeper insight into the features of the eschatological model. The object of study is progressivism and its “temporal paradigm” as part of the European tradition of scientific rationalism, while the subject is eschatology as the root of progressivism. The article employs the following scientific methods: metatheory and philosophy of science, the historical method, and evolutionism as a scientific approach. Its scholarly contribution lies in analyzing the relationship between “myth” and the “temporal paradigm” of modern science, demonstrating that the latter, contrary to rationalist logic, is not an “abstract point of reference.” Myth is considered a concrete, sensuous reality shaping the perception of the world, including that of the scientist and science itself. The study argues that even within rationalism and progressivism, eschatological concepts retain their mythological structure, raising questions about the true nature and trajectory of science and the possibility of its emancipation from myth. In this context, the research offers a new perspective on the interplay between scientific and mythological categories, emphasizing their role in ordering the chaos of the surrounding world and shaping cultural identity.

Eschatology, eschatological myth, Palingenesis, Palingenetic myth, Eurocentrism, religious archetype, Temporal paradigm, Palingenesis in philosophy, Eschatology in philosophy, european rationalism