Vladimir Solovyov’s “Three Speeches on Dostoevsky.” Then and Now

Russian Studies in Philosophy. 2022. Vol. 60. No. 1. P. 60–73.

Porus V. N.

This article discusses the connection between the
ideas of Fyodor M. Dostoevsky and Vladimir
S. Solovyov on the need for cultural and moral
transformation of those who would claim to parti-
cipate in the historical process of Russia’s develop-
ment, as well as the contemporary interpretation
of these ideas. Both Dostoevsky and Solovyov
believed that it was Russia who was destined to
restore universal meaning to Christianity, to lead
Christianity out of the impasse of national exclu-
sivity. Russia is capable of fulfilling this messianic
role on the path to a universal theocracy that
would impart the necessary spiritual elevation to
humanity. Solovyov’s theocratic dreams, which
were based on Dostoevsky’s religious ideas, were
not destined to receive public support. The Russian
intelligentsia found itself faced with the question,
“What do we live for and what must we do?”
Dostoevsky answered this question, followed by
Solovyov: We must abandon any attempt to fight
for cultural ideals when such a fight leads to
resorting to violence. Those who are in charge of
transforming life must themselves be spiritually
transformed. Any other path would lead to social
and cultural disaster. These thoughts of the two
distinguished thinkers - the brilliant writer and the
prominent Russian philosopher - are taking on a
new significance in contemporary Russia. For
today’s reformers, the most important task is to
restore the destroyed system of values (including,
above all, values involving personal freedom of
citizens). This means the cultural revival of Russia,without which social transformations will continue
to be stuck in a vicious circle wherein one form of
violence follows another. Fulfilling this task
requires a spiritual feat akin to what the Russian
thinkers were calling for in the late nineteenth
century.

Keywords: freedom, religious philosophy, Christian culture, cultural values, Fyodor M. Dostoevsky, Vladimir S. Solovyov, moral ideal, spiritual transformation