N.A. Berdyaev’s “struggle” with I. Kant over irresponsible freedom and self-justification by philosophy

Author: korolevaNV / Date: 27-03-2025 /
Publication Title: 
N.A. Berdyaev’s “struggle” with I. Kant over irresponsible freedom and self-justification by philosophy
Publication author(s): 
Ju.B. Mehlich
Abstract: 

The relevance of the study relates to the 300th anniversary of I. Kant and the 150th anniversary of N.A. Berdyaev. The novelty of the study lies in the substantiation of the thesis that Berdyaev’s “struggle” with Kant is the main motive and core of his philosophical thought. A comparative analysis of Berdyaev’s philosophising is carried out, in the course of which similarities and differences of his ideas with those of other philosophers are established. Berdyaev’s new religious consciousness includes the idea of the Eternal Covenant based on freedom and the idea of free theurgy of Vl. Solovyov; the idea of paradoxical ethics of S. Kirkegaard; references to anarchism and M. Stirner’s construction of philosophy; Berdyaev’s worldview is compared to N.V. Stavrogin, who lived through the experience of evil. It is concluded that Berdyaev wins the struggle with Kant’s understanding of the ethics of duty with success for himself and his work.

 

References: 

(Sources)

Collected Works

1. Berdyaev, N.A. Stavrogin, in Berdyaev, N.A. Filosofiya tvorchestva, kul'tury i iskusstva. V 2 t., t. 2 [Philosophy of Creativity, Culture and Art. In 2 vols., vol. 2]. Moscow: Iskusstvo; Liga, 1994, pp. 176–186.

2.   Kant, I. Predpolagaemoe nachalo chelovecheskoy istorii [Conjectural Beginning of History], in Kant, I. Sochineniya v 4 t., t. 1. Traktaty i stat'i (1784–1796) [Works in 4 vols., vol. 1. Treatises and Articles (1784–1796)]. Moscow: Kami, 1993, pp. 151–191.

3.   Solov'ev, V.S. Kritika otvlechennykh nachal [Critique of Abstract Principles], in Solov'ev, V.S. Sochineniya v 2 t., t. 1 [Works in 2 vols., vol. 1]. Moscow: Mysl', 1988, pp. 581–756.

4.   Solov'ev, V.S. <Plany i chernoviki> [Plans and drafts], in Solov'ev, V.S. Polnoe sobranie sochineniy i pisem v 20 t. Sochineniya. T. 2. 1875–1877 [Complete Works and Letters in 20 vols. Works. Vol. 2. 1875–1877]. Moscow: Nauka, 2000, pp. 162–178.

Individual Works

  1.  Berdyaev, N.A. Novoe religioznoe soznanie i obshchestvennost' [New Religious Consciousness and Public]. Moscow: KANON+, 1999. 464 p.
  2.  Berdyaev, N.A. O naznachenii cheloveka. Opyt paradoksal'noy etiki [On the Purpose of Man. The Experience of Paradoxical Ethics], in Berdyaev, N.A. O naznachenii cheloveka [On the Purpose of Man]. Moscow: Respublika, 1993, pp. 19–252.
  3.  Berdyaev, N.A. O rabstve i svobode cheloveka. Opyt personalisticheskoy filosofii [On Slavery and Freedom of Man. The Experience of Personalistic Philosophy], in Berdyaev, N.A. Opyt paradoksal'noy etiki [The Experience of Paradoxical Ethics]. Moscow: AST; Khar'kov: Folio, 2003, pp. 423–696.
  4.  Berdyaev, N.A. O khristianskom pessimizme i optimizme (Po povodu pis'ma protoiereya Sergiya Chetverikova) [On Christian Pessimism and Optimism (On the Letter of Archpriest Sergius Chetverikov)], in Put'. Organ russkoy religioznoy mysli, 1935, no. 46, pp. 31–36.
  5. Berdyaev, N.A. Samopoznanie. Opyt filosofskoy avtobiografii [Self-Knowledge. Experience of a Philosophical Autobiography]. Moscow: Kniga, 1991. 448 p.
  6. Boulgakoff, S. L‘Orthodoxie. Paris: Alean, 1932. 269 p. 
  7. Dostoevskiy, F.M. Besy. Roman v 3 ch. [Demons. A novel in 3 parts]. Leningrad: Khudozhestvennaya literatura, 1989. 672 p.
  8. K'erkegor, S. Bolezn' k smerti [The Sickness unto Death], in K'erkegor, S. Strakh i trepet [Fear and Trembling]. Moscow: Kul'turnaya revolyutsiya, 2010, pp. 285–404.
  9. Shtirner, M. Edinstvennyy i ego sobstvennost' [The Unique and Its Property]. Khar'kov: Osnova, 1994. 560 p.

(Monographs)

  1. Gaydenko, P.P. Vladimir Solov'ev i filosofiya Serebryanogo veka [Vladimir Solovyov and the Philosophy of the Silver Age]. Moscow: Progress-Traditsiya, 2001. 472 p.
  2. Klamroth, E. Der Gedanke der ewigen Schöpfung bei Nikolai Berdiajew. Ein umfassender Überblick über das Werk dieses großen Russen des 20. Jahrhunderts. Hamburg-Bergstedt: Herbert Reich, Evangelischer Verlag, 1963. 118 p. 
  3. Klein, P. Die “kreative Freiheit“ nach Nikolaj Berdjajew. Zeichen der Hoffnung in einer gefallenen Welt. Regensburg: Verlag Friedrich Pustet, 1976. 269 p.
  4. Schultze, B. Die Schau der Kirche bei Nikolai Berdiajew. Rom: Pont. Institutum Orientalium Studiorum, 1938. 251 p.
  5. Vadimov, A. Zhizn' Berdyaeva: Rossiya [Berdyaev's Life: Russia]. Oakland, California: Berkeley Slavic Specialties, 1993. 287 p.
  6. Volkogonova, O.D. Berdyaev. Moscow: Molodaya gvardiya, 2010. 390 p.
  7. Zen'kovskiy, V.V. Istoriya russkoy filosofii. T. 2, ch. 2 [History of Russian Philosophy. Vol. 2, part 2]. Leningrad: Ego; Soyuzblankoizdat [Moscow]; Prometey, 1991. 268 p.

Introductions to Monographs

  1. Gründel, J. Vorwort des Herausgebers, in Klein, P. Die “kreative Freiheit” nach Nikolaj Berdjajew. Zeichen der Hoffnung in einer gefallenen Welt. Regensburg: Verlag Friedrich Pustet, 1976, pp. 5–6.
  2. Häring, B. Vorwort, in Klein, P. Die “kreative Freiheit” nach Nikolaj Berdjajew. Zeichen der Hoffnung in einer gefallenen Welt. Regensburg: Verlag Friedrich Pustet, 1976, pp. 7–8.

 

Key words: 
idea of justification of evil, neo-Kantian worldview, paradoxical ethics, ethics of duty, meonic creativity, free theurgy of Vl. Solovyov, anarchism of M. Stirner
2025. Issue 1 (85)
The DOI index: 
10.17588/2076-9210.2025.1.098-111
Publication file: 
str.98-111_85.pdf