Epistemological understanding of the principle of hierarchy: scientific and theological aspect

This article provides a scientific and theological understanding of the principle of hierarchy. An attempt is made to determine the significance of the hierarchy in the surrounding reality using the theoretical-cognitive method from the scientific-secular and orthodox-theological positions, as well as to compare scientific and theological knowledge about the principle of hierarchy, revealing their basis and relationship. To this end, the article presents a separate epistemological understanding of such broad scientific and philosophical concepts as “principle” and “hierarchy” in the system of philosophical and scientific knowledge, both in the physical (material) and metaphysical (spiritual) areas of knowledge. Particular attention in the article is paid to the ontological significance of the principle of hierarchy in its theological aspect, as a key one in relation to this concept. Some ethical and moral aspects of the principle of hierarchy in the soteriological key within the framework of Orthodox theological knowledge are investigated. An assessment is given of the significance of the hierarchical structure of being in its traditional (Orthodox) theological understanding.