Екзистенціальний страх як онтологічна передумова посередності
Existential fear as ontologically background of mediocrity

Summary/Abstract: The article deals with the phenomenon of fear as peculiar to every living creature, and having many different forms. It is analyzed three main forms in which the phenomenon of fear is manifested, namely, the fear as a biological defense mechanism, the fear as a psychological phenomenon, and the existential fear. Fear as a biological, instinctive self-defense mechanism is common for man and the animal world. However, a person in the same time has various forms of social fear (fear of responsibility, fear of evaluation, fear of betrayal, fear of authority, fear of loneliness, fear of fame), that fill human life from the moment of self-awareness as a subject of social reality. The more existential fears (fear of the future, fear of change, fear of death) point to the specifically of human world, that is due to the possibility of self-consciousness and "mental journey" in the time continuum of the past and the future. The presence of these themes in ancient philosophical thought and modernity multiple integrative research demonstrates the continued relevance of the present issue. This is not surprising, given the presence of fear in everyone's life, regardless of the level of education and awareness of human being. Increasing variety of social fear in recent decades only exacerbate the urgency of this matter in our time of social transformation and progress of civilization. The phenomenon of fear is discussed in terms of the influence of its varieties (fear as a biological defense mechanism, fear as a psychological phenomenon, the varieties of existential fears) on human life, human creative activity and the possibility of self-realization. In this article the protective function of fear is determined, its inhibitory effect on personal development and the limit effect of domestic and social freedom. Fear is the mechanism of the human psyche, which protects the individual from the many dangers, from receiving and repeating harmful to the integrity of the individual psycho-physiological experience. Biological fear – it is a natural protective regulator of a living organism, which is mediated by negative emotions and prevents danger. In comparison with the biological, social fears are not a direct threat to life, but have a significant effect on the emotional state and behavior of individual. Most of social fears generally are not realized and widespread. To a considerable extent, social fears limit the social activity of man. Thereby exert an inhibitory effect on the development of the individual. The article also discusses the correlation of social fears and social freedoms in society. And the mechanism of inhibition of social activity, which is run by different types of social fear. If social fear limits the ability to socialize, the existential fear in its various forms keeps a person in captivity of mediocrity. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of existential fear as a deep fear, which is related to the fundamentals of human existence. Such fear is rarely perceived as fear. And even more rarely understood, remaining unconscious. This is a factor that blocks the individual evolution and, thus, becomes an ontological premise of mediocrity and a source of stereotypical type of thinking. The author also analyzes different types of existential fears, common ways of their prevention and "joining" in mediocrity. Existential fear is discussed in the article as well as the motivating factor of creativity (for the creative minority), the results of which could satisfy the human needs for stability and predictability in the life. The author cites a number of examples of contemporary creative discoveries that are "quiet" the fear of unknown places and the fear of near future (the two main forms of existential fear – the fear of space and the fear of the time). These created illusions can curb basic existential fears of the majority, which is unable to creative activity. However, the ability to be creative and to creative work associated very consistently with a view "in eyes" of fear, basic existential fears, and overcome them. That is actually real and not illusory freedom from fear. The creativity (in sense of creative work and of its results) is considered by the author as possible only as a result of "openness" to existential fears and the uncertainty, which is associated with different types of fears. As a result, the creativity enables the freedom of nature, of society, of unsatisfied needs and of existential fears. Finding freedom and implementing it in a creative work, person always comes out of the circle of mediocrity. However, is it available only to those who is aware and is able to overcome various forms of fear, that burst into life and constantly each other.

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