Social Reality and Public Consciousness in the Historical Development of Ukrainian Society

The relationship between social reality and public consciousness represents one of the central problems of social philosophy and historical sociology. While numerous studies have examined the political, economic, and cultural dimensions of Ukrainian historical development, less attention has been devoted to the interaction between transformations in social reality and changes in public consciousness across different historical periods. The purpose of this study is to analyze the evolution of public consciousness in relation to major transformations in the social reality of Ukrainian society. Particular attention is given to the emergence of the Ukrainian ethnos, the development of Kyivan Rus, the rise of the Cossack movement, the formation of the Hetmanate, and the subsequent transformation of Ukrainian society under changing political conditions. The methodological framework combines social-philosophical analysis with historical-sociological interpretation. The study draws upon the social-philosophical conception of the relationship between social being and public consciousness developed by Volovyk, while incorporating contemporary approaches to collective identity, collective memory, and nation formation. Historical analysis is based on the works of Hrushevskyi, Golobutskyi, Polonska-Vasylenko, Rafalskyi, and other scholars of Ukrainian history. The findings demonstrate that public consciousness evolves through continuous interaction with social reality and reflects changes in political institutions, economic structures, social relations, and cultural practices. The study shows that different forms of public consciousness—including political, religious, legal, ethical, and cultural consciousness—emerged and transformed during successive stages of Ukrainian historical development. Special attention is devoted to the role of the Cossack movement and the Hetmanate in strengthening collective identity, political agency, and state-building processes. The article argues that public consciousness should be understood not merely as a reflection of social conditions but also as an active factor influencing historical development. The Ukrainian historical experience demonstrates that transformations in collective consciousness frequently accompany periods of institutional change and contribute to the formation of new social and political realities. The study contributes to broader discussions in social philosophy, historical sociology, collective memory studies, and national identity research by demonstrating the reciprocal relationship between social reality and public consciousness in the historical development of Ukrainian society.