Love and theocracy: the path to divine perfection in the philosophy of Fr. Baader and Vl. Solovyov
Publication Title:
Love and theocracy: the path to divine perfection in the philosophy of Fr. Baader and Vl. Solovyov
Abstract:
The article analyzes the most original fragment of the philosophical system of V.S. Solovyov – his idea that humanity can move towards the Kingdom of God on earth, towards divine perfection, through ideal sexual love and through an ideal form of government, theocracy. The authors substantiate the hypothesis that Solovyov borrowed this concept from the writings of the German philosopher Franz Baader. The analysis of Baader's concept led to the conclusion that he understood sexual love in its ideal form, that is, made free from the predominance of physical passion in it, as the only possible form of transformation of individuals from an imperfect, sinful state into a divine state. Theocracy, understood as a way of direct rule of God through an organic synthesis of state and church, plays the same role at the level of humanity. The authors of the article show that Solovyov significantly modified and specified this concept, but retained its general content. The article proves the direct connection of the philosophical system of Baader and his predecessor K. Eckartshausen with the tradition of Gnostic Christianity and with the doctrine of the world and man, set forth in the most famous Gnostic apocrypha (Apocrypha of John and the Gospel of Philip). This allows authors to conclude that Solovyov’s system in its most original and meaningful elements develops the tradition of Gnostic Christianity and cannot be reduced to ideas characteristic of the dogmatic teaching of the church, as Solovyov’s Orthodox critics insist (E.N. Trubetskoy, A.F. Losev and others).
References:
(Sources)
Collected Works
1. Baader, F. von. Die römisch katholische und die griechisch russische Kirche. Franz Von Baader's Sämmtliche Werke. Bd. 5. Leipzig: Verlag von Herrmann Bethmann, 1854, pp. 390–398.
2. Baader, F. von. Sätze aus der erotischen Philosophie. Franz Von Baader's Sämmtliche Werke. Bd. 4. Leipzig: Verlag von Herrmann Bethmann, 1853, pp. 163–178.
3. Baader, F. von. Ueber die Trennbarkeit oder Untrennbarkeit des Papstthums oder des Primats vom Katholicismus. Franz Von Baader's Sämmtliche Werke. Bd. 5. Leipzig: Verlag von Herrmann Bethmann, 1854, pp. 368–372.
4. Baader, F. von. Vierzig Sätze aus einer religiösen Erotik. Franz Von Baader's Sämmtliche Werke. Bd. 4. Leipzig: Verlag von Herrmann Bethmann, 1853, pp. 179–200.
5. Evangelie ot Filippa [The Gospel of Philip], in Apokrify drevnikh khristian. Issledovanie, teksty, kommentarii [Apocrypha of Ancient Christians. Research, texts, comments]. Moscow: Mysl', 1989, pp. 274–296.
6. Fikhte, I.G. Osnovnye cherty sovremennoy epokhi [Main features of the modern era], in Fikhte, I.G. Sochineniya v 2 t., t. 2 [Works in 2 vols., vol. 2]. Saint-Petersburg: Mifril, 1993, pp. 359–619.
7. Solov'ev, V.S. Ob upadke srednevekovogo mirosozertsaniya [On the decline of the medieval worldview], in Solov'ev, V.S. Sochineniya v 2 t., t. 2 [Works in 2 vols., vol. 2]. Moscow: Mysl', 1988, pp. 339–350.
8. Solov'ev, V.S. Smysl lyubvi [The meaning of love], in Solov'ev, V.S. Sochineniya v 2 t., t. 2 [Works in 2 vols., vol. 2]. Moscow: Mysl', 1988, pp. 493–547.
9. Solov'ev, V.S. Tri rechi v pamyat' Dostoevskogo [Three speeches in memory of Dostoevsky], in Solov'ev, V.S. Sochineniya v 2 t., t. 2 [Works in 2 vols., vol. 2]. Moscow: Mysl', 1988, pp. 289–323.
Individual Works
10. Baader, F. von. Ueber das durch die französische Revolution herbeigeführte Bedürfniss einer neuen und innigern Verbindung der Religion mit der Politik. Nürnberg: Friedrich Campe, 1815. 28 p.
11. Chicherin, B.N. Istoriya politicheskikh ucheniy. V 3 t. T. 2 [History of political doctrines. In 3 vols. Vol. 2]. Saint-Petersburg: Izdatel'stvo RKhGA, 2008. 752 p.
12. Eckartshausen, C. von. Gott ist die reinste Liebe: mein Gebet und meine Betrachtung. Neisse: Rosenkranz u. Bär, 1825. 240 p.
13. Eckartshausen, C. von. Über die wichtigsten Mysterien der Religion. München: Verlag von C. Th. F. Sauer, 1823. 142 p.
14. Görres, J. Teutschland und die Revolution. Koblenz: Hölscher, 1819. 212 p.
15. Trubetskoy, E.N. Mirosozertsanie V.S. Solov'eva. V 2 t. Т. 1 [Worldview of V.S. Solovyov. In 2 vols. Vol. 1]. Moscow: Moskovskiy filosofskiy fond, 1995. 606 p.
(Articles from Proceedings and Collections of Research Papers)
16. Bogdanov, K.A. I.G. Yung-Shilling v Rossii: religioznyy internatsional, dukhovnaya geografiya i mirazhi konspirologii [Johann Heinrich Jung-Stilling in Russia: A Religious International, Spiritual Geography and Mirages of Conspirology], in Russkaya literature, 2015, no. 4, pp. 14–27.
17. Evlampiev, I.I., Smirnov, V.N. Dostoevsky's Christianity. RUDN Journal of Philosophy, 2021, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 44–59.
18. Evlampiev, I.I. Neiskazhennoe khristianstvo i ego pervoistochniki [Undistorted Christianity and its sources], in Solov'evskie issledovaniya, 2017, issue 4, pp. 155–190.
19. Lagutina, I.N. Sotsial'no-filosofskaya utopiya Frantsa fon Baadera i politika nadkonfessional'nogo khristianstva Aleksandra I [Socio-Philosophical Utopia of Franz von Baader and the Policy of Over-Confessional Christianity of Alexander I], in Filosoficheskie pis'ma. Russko-evropeyskiy dialog, 2021, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 149–171.
20. Rezvykh, T.N. Vremya u Frantsa Baadera [Franz Baader’s understanding of Time], in Khristianskoe chtenie, 2017, no. 4, pp. 294–306.
21. Rezvykh, T.N. O roli F.K. Baadera v russkoy filosofii: sluchay L.P. Karsavina [About F.K. Baaders role in the Russian philosophy: L.P. Karsavins case], in Vestnik RKhGA, 2016, vol. 17, issue 4, pp. 196–211.
(Monographs)
22. Evlampiev, I.I. Obraz Iisusa Khrista v filosofskom mirovozzrenii F.M. Dostoevskogo [The image of Jesus Christ in the philosophical worldview of F.M. Dostoevsky]. Saint-Petersburg: Izdatel'stvo RKhGA, 2021. 600 p.
23. 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.
24. Kondakov, Yu.E. Liberal'noe i konservativnoe napravleniya v religioznykh dvizheniyakh v Rossii pervoy chetverti XIX veka [Liberal and conservative parties in the religious movements in Russia of the first quarter of the 19th century]. Saint-Petersburg: Izdatel'stvo RGPU im. A.I. Gertsena, 2005. 343 p.
25. Losev, A.F. Vladimir Solov'ev i ego vremya [Vladimir Solovyov and His Time]. Moscow: Mysl', 1990. 720 p.
Key words:
sexual love in the philosophy of Solovyov and Baader, the tradition of Gnostic Christianity in the philosophy of Eckartshausen and Baader, the Apocrypha of John, the Gospel of Philip, the concept of theocracy, the Eastern Church, Western Church
The DOI index:
10.17588/2076-9210.2024.1.020-035
Publication file:
