Features of methodological issues on the example of Montague Summers’ work "The history of witchcraft"

The methodology of any research involves working within certain operating systems that form a system of views on a particular phenomenon. Antagonistic views are caused by differences in the perception of the world, thinking and evaluation of subjects. The influence of methodological attitudes on the organization of research into an issue is examined in this article using the example of M. Summers' bestseller, “The History of Witchcraft”. The book contrasts two points of view on the Church's struggle with magic and reveals the operating systems that form antagonistic views on this process. It is noted that Summers rejects rationalistic cliches and presents the problem through the concept of heresy, which he interprets in terms of connections and structure rather than content. With the help of it M. Summers represents the confrontation between the Church and witchcraft as an antagonism of system and anti-system, which has timeless characteristics. In conclusion, the results of the research work depend on whether the method used is structural or systemic. However, to create a “multi-dimensional subject-system science”, an integrative methodological foundation is needed.