Ontological Foundations of Socio-Cultural Identity: From Antinomy to a Synthetic Model

This paper presents the results of a philosophical analysis of the ontological foundations of sociocultural identity. In the context of the contemporary anthropological crisis, characterized by globalization and digitalization, the problem of defining the foundations of identity becomes particularly relevant. The study aims not only to identify and critically examine the main ontological paradigms (substantialist and constructivist) but also to positively resolve their antinomy through the development of a synthetic multi-level model of sociocultural identity. The methodological basis comprises comparative-historical analysis, hermeneutic interpretation of texts, and immanent criticism. The conducted research has enabled the systematization of key ontological models of identity and the identification of their methodological limitations. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of classical concepts—from the Aristotelian substantialist tradition to modern constructivist approaches. As a result, an ontological model is proposed, describing the being of socio-cultural identity as a multi-level phenomenon existing simultaneously in the modes of intersubjectivity, incorporation, narrativity, and practicality. The model integrates the achievements of various philosophical traditions, offering a holistic understanding of identity as a unity of stability and variability, objective and subjective, individual and collective. It is shown that the proposed model, overcoming the limitations of substantialist and constructivist approaches, opens new perspectives for non-classical ontology and possesses significant potential for social epistemology. The proposed synthetic approach creates a theoretical basis for analyzing contemporary transformations of identity in the context of digitalization and global migration processes, which determines its practical significance for social and humanitarian research.