Professor, Head of the Department of Caucasian Philosophy
New Georgian University, Research Archive of Caucasian Philosophy and Theology / Shota Rustaveli State University of Batumi
Batumi, Georgia
ngu.lzakaradze@gmail.com

Caucasian Philosophy as a New Paradigm of Intercultural Philosophy

This presentation will discuss Caucasian philosophy as a new concept/category within philosophical historiography, its origins, and historical development. The concept is fundamentally rooted in the philosophical thought of the peoples of the Caucasus—primarily Georgian and Armenian—during the Middle Ages, the early modern period, and the 20th century. This tradition largely formed on the basis of Late Antique and Byzantine philosophical doctrines. The coexistence, re-actualization, and dialogue among various modes of thought—Platonic, Aristotelian, Neoplatonic, Scholastic, Humanist, and others—contributed, on the one hand, to the formation of local philosophical traditions and, at the same time, through intellectual interactions, fostered the creation of a philosophical language that enabled innovative interpretations.

Although the notion of "Caucasian philosophy" as a distinct strand in the history of philosophy was identified and emphasized in the 21st-century Georgian philosophical scholarship of Prof. Tengiz Iremadze, it also presents itself as an important paradigm of intercultural philosophy. Through this concept, a unique intellectual tradition is brought to light—one whose origins are directly linked to foundational problems of intercultural thinking. The aim of conceptualizing Caucasian philosophy is to reveal the internal unity of intellectual diversity in the region, through the dialectical interrelation of its unique characteristics and specificities.

The presentation will examine the key issues, problems, and prospects of Caucasian philosophy from this perspective. Special attention will also be paid to the reception of major Caucasian thinkers in European intellectual contexts, focusing in particular on studies and works that address the history and challenges of the reception and transformation of Caucasian philosophy.

Keywords: Caucasian philosophy; Intercultural philosophy; A new category in the history of philosophy; Pan-Caucasian consciousness; Openness of culture and thought; Georgian-Armenian philosophical relations.