FROM ENLIGHTENMENT TO ARTISTIC PHILOSOPHY: JADIDISM AND THE CULTURAL MODERNIZATION OF TAJIK SOCIETY

This article analyzes Jadidism of the early 20th century as a holistic philosophical and cultural project for the modernization of Tajik society, in which artistic culture served as a key instrument for the transformation of public consciousness. In contrast to the narrow understanding of Jadidism as an educational or enlightenment reform, the work examines it as a form of philosophical renewal, realized primarily through literature, theater, and journalism. The artistic practices of the Jadids are interpreted as a special space for philosophical expression, where fundamental questions of reason, progress, social responsibility, and the role of the individual in history were explored. It is shown that Jadid artistic culture contributed to a rethinking of traditional notions of humanity and society, shaping a new anthropological and social ideal focused on knowledge, critical thinking, and active citizenship. Through artistic expression, philosophical ideas of modernization acquired an accessible and emotionally charged form, ensuring their widespread dissemination and gradual integration into public consciousness. Particular attention is given to the role of art in bridging the gap between tradition and modernity. The artistic culture of Jadidism enabled philosophical modernization without radically breaking with cultural identity, ensuring a synthesis of Islamic ethics, local intellectual heritage, and modern rationalist principles. The article argues that artistic practices served as a mediator between philosophical reflection and social practice, transforming Jadidism into an effective mechanism for intellectual and cultural renewal. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the philosophical interpretation of Jadid artistic culture as a form of practical social philosophy, which played a fundamental role in the process of modernization of Tajik society at the beginning of the 20th century.