KONSTANTIN PAUSTOVSKY AND THE MORAL IMAGINATION OF NATURE IN RUSSIAN PROSE

This article examines the aesthetic, moral, and ecological dimensions of Konstantin Paustovsky’s prose, analyzing how his lyrical realism harmonizes humanistic ideals with spiritual and environmental consciousness. The study identifies the central research problem as understanding how Paustovsky transforms nature into a moral and aesthetic category reflecting human virtue and conscience. Using eco-critical, phenomenological, and hermeneutic approaches, the research reveals that his prose anticipates modern ecological humanism by merging ethical sensitivity with artistic beauty. The novelty lies in reinterpreting Paustovsky through interdisciplinary theory, filling a gap in comparative scholarship that connects his moral aesthetics with broader European humanistic traditions. The findings demonstrate that Paustovsky’s works transcend mere romanticism, establishing literature as a moral ecosystem where art becomes both ethical reflection and spiritual renewal.