Нескончаемый спор о морали (Лев Толстой и Лев Шестов)

С. 51–68.

Porus V. N.

Leо Tolstoy’s «moralism» is a call for purification of moral universals that comprise the basis of culture. And the within the culture there is no contradiction between the values of individual life and values of social «peace». Being ethical means: either follow absolute moral requirements, making certain actions, or to focus on the final goal of perfect motion, taking responsibility for deviation from them and correcting errors. The subordination of the individual behavior of the general rules or laws needs in both cases. «Moralist- preacher» has to possess some main requirements. First, he has to comply with the principles of his teachings. Secondly, he has to sure that he speaks from name of the well-known truth. Otherwise, his preaching will be deception and destruction, but not the creation of moral culture.Shestov rejects preaching pathos as incompatible with the existential (individualistic) perception of the world. Moral preaching paradoxically turns as «amoralism»: the conviction of human weakness leads to violence, to indifference towards the human suffering,  humiliation and insult «accidents», rejected morality. Shestov puts absolute human individuality in the place of «absolute morality» (It’s a synonym for God in views of Tolstoy). But this Absolute is not compatible with moral universalism and other cultural property (including Rationality). This opposition assumes the impossible of choice between culture without personality or individuality and personality without culture.

Keywords: культура, мораль, рациональность, Лев Толстой, Философия культуры, Лев Шестов

In book

Лев Толстой: литература и философия

М., СПб.: Центр гуманитарных инициатив, 2020.