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SOCIAL-RELIGIOUS UTOPIAS IN THE RUSSIAN SPIRITUAL RENAISSANCE

Nina Dimitrova

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Year of Publication: 2002

Cover Type: Soft

Category: Philosophy

Edition: First Edition

Pages: 220

Format: n/a

Language: Bulgarian

Summary

This study of socio-religious utopias during the era of the Russian spiritual renaissance seeks to explain the existing varieties of utopianism through the specific nature of philosophical constructs that are synthetic in character, distinct from academic philosophical systems. The “organic” form of philosophizing, understood not so much as reflection but primarily as a practical endeavor, offers a possibility for the expression of the deep characteristics of the national character and the yearning for the ideal. The notion of the feasibility of the ideal, of the absolute within the existing historical fabric, is a characteristic feature of the philosophical-religious concepts examined. At the same time, the core of the utopian vision is sought in the Gnostic mindset inherent in the numerous ideological currents presented. The book also reveals the philosophical articulation of Gnosticism within “secular religiosity” in Russia during the period under consideration and highlights the destructive pathos of the dominant mood in all intellectual groups, explaining it by the presence of a strong Gnostic charge in their ideas—the mindset of total rejection of “this” world, of its rapid, radical replacement with another. In this context, the variants of “human-god” are examined—the Gnostic worldviews expressing national specificity that gave rise to various utopian projects—for a “new” human, etc.—with their connection to the subsequent realization of social utopia being highlighted.

Аbout The Author

• Nina Dimitrova: Ph.D. Nina Dimitrova is a professor at the Institute for the Study of Societies and Knowledge at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Her research interests are in the field of history of philosophy (Bulgarian studies, Russian religious philosophy, history of ideas), philosophy of religion, new religious movements, philosophical anthropology. She is the author of the monographs: The Hour of the Bulgarian Intelligentsia (Sofia, Paradigma, 2010); Debates around Bulgarian Gnosticism - XX century (Veliko Tarnovo, Faber, 2008); Religion and nationalism. Ideas about religion in the interwar period in Bulgaria (Sofia, Faber, 2006); Images of man. Anthropological ideas in Bulgarian philosophical thought between the two world wars (Veliko Tarnovo, Faber, 2003; electronic edition, 2005); National Russian philosophy - pro et contra (the dispute between neo-Slavophiles and neo-Westerners - XX century) (Veliko Tarnovo, Faber, 2002); Socio-religious utopias in the Russian spiritual renaissance (Sofia, Publishing House of BAS "Prof. Marin Drinov", 2002); Gnostic motifs in the Russian Silver Age (Sofia, LIK, 1998); Utopia and eschatology in the Russian Silver Age (Sofia, Kronos, 1995); Dostoevsky and the Russian Religious-Philosophical Renaissance (Sofia, St. Kliment Ohridski University Press, 1994) and others.