Free will in the syncretism of Tuvan culture

The article analyzes the problem of free will in the Tuvan culture, characterized by syncretism and traditionalism. It uncovers the worldview aspects of the Tuvan people, which reveal an organic unity with nature, thereby determining the range of alternative actions available. It is emphasized that individuals in traditional Tuvan culture operate through syncretic thinking, which occurs in the inseparable relationship not only between humans and nature but also between subject and object. The absence of metaphysical thinking in Tuvan culture is noted as a consequence of operating within a localized cognitive framework and the lack of necessity for supra-natural concepts within the cultural context. The dissolution of the individual in the surrounding space emerges as a natural phenomenon in the context of their livelihood within a specific culture that has arisen under certain conditions. Furthermore, the article delineates a unique understanding of human responsibility and the concept of personal freedom. This understanding does not create contradictions in the realization of one’s free will and the necessity for the development of nature. Additionally, the contours of the transformation of Tuvan culture and the formation of personality concepts influenced by European models are outlined. This analysis contributes to the broader discourse on the interplay between cultural context and the conception of free will, highlighting how deeply embedded traditional beliefs and practices shape the Tuvan understanding of individual agency within the world.