Grossman - Neo-Kantianism, Pantheism, And the Ego

8/12/2019 Grossman - Neo-Kantianism, Pantheism, And the Ego

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JOAN DELANEY GROSSMAN

N E O - K A N T I A N I S M , P A N T H E IS M , A N D T H E E G OSym bolist D ebates in the 1890 s

KEY WORDS: consciousness, decadence, individualism, materialism, monad-ology, mo nad , my stical, parallelism, psycho-physical, panpsychism, pantheism,sym bolism , Briusov, K onev skoi , Paulsen

I n v es t i g a t i n g a rt , l i te r a tu r e , an d th o u g h t in t h e Ru ss i a o f t h e 1 8 9 0 sm e a n s e x p l o r in g a c o m p l e x c u l t u ra l to p o g r a p h y th a t h a s n o t y e t b e e nch a r t ed i n d e t a i l . Ma te r i a l i sm , Po s i t i v i sm , D ar w in i sm, Mar x i sm,L e i b n i z ia n i s m , n e o - K a n t i a n i s m , N i e tz s c h e a n is m , D e c a d e n c e , S y m -b o l i sm , N a tu r a l i sm , t h e i d eas an d e s th e ti c s o f T o l s to i, D o s to ev sk y ,th e Po p u l i s t s , an d V lad im i r So lo v ~ v : a l l t h ese an d m o r e c r is s -c r o s sed an d c r o s s - f e r t i l i zed . D i s to r t i o n , d i l u t i o n , an d e l ab o r a t i o nin ev i t ab ly o ccu r r ed . Y e t, w h i l e n o n ea t t o p o g r ap h ica l ch a r t may ev e rb e ach i ev ed , so me sa l i en t f ea tu re s d o em er g e .The fin-de-siOcle f o u n d m a n y y o u n g R u s s i a n s d e e p l y a b s o r b e db y l i t e r a r y an d p h i lo so p h ica l q u es t i o n s w h i l e l o o k in g f o r a b r eak -th r o u g h in to m o d e r n i ty . A r t i c l e s an d d eb a te s i n j o u r n a l s l i k e VestnikEvropy [Herald o f Europe], Severnyi vestnik [Northern M essenger],and Voprosy filosofii i psikhologii [Questions o f Philosophy an dPsychology], the p l a y s o f I b s e n a n d M a e t e r l i n c k , t h e n e w F r e n c hp o e t r y , an d th e p a in t i n g s o f B o eck l in an d V r u b e l a l l f ed t h e s en seo f i ts imm in en ce . So m e o f t h ese p eo p le , so o n to f i g u r e i n th e R u s -s ia n S y m b o l i s t a n d D e c a d e n t m o v e m e n t s , w e r e u n i v e r s i ty s tu d e n tsf o l l o w i n g th e l e c tu r e s o f t h e n e o - K a n t i a n A l e k s a n d r V v e d e n s k i i i nS t . Pe te r sb u r g an d th e p h i lo so p h e r - p sy ch o lo g i s t s N ik o la i G r o t an dL ev L o p a t in i n M o sco w . 1 T h ese s tu d en t s n o t eb o o k s , d ia r i e s, an dc o r r e s p o n d e n c e o f te n s h o w a d e e p c o n c e r n w i th q u e s ti o n s b e a r i n go n t h e i r u n d e r s t a n d in g o f t h e m s e l v e s a n d o f th e u n i v e rs e . T h e n e wid eas co min g f r o m th e Wes t b o th sh a r p en ed th ese q u es t i o n s an df u e l ed t h e s ea r ch f o r an sw er s .


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18 JOAN DELANEY GROSSMAN

I d ea l i sm s r ev i v a l in t h e f ace o f ad v an c i n g m a t e r i a l i sm o p en edt h e d o o r w i d e i n R u ss i a t o t h e v a r io u s n eo - K an t i an t r en d s f l o u r i sh i n gi n G e r m a n y . B y t h e e a r l y 1 8 9 0 s n e a r l y a ll t h e w r i ti n g s o f G e r m a n y sl ead i n g n eo - K an t i an s w er e a l r ead y t ran s l a t ed an d b e i n g d i s cu s sed i nR u ss i a s i n t e ll ec t u a l e s t ab l ish m e n t s . S t . Pe t e rsb u r g U n i v e r s i t y wast h e c e n te r o f a c a d e m i c n e o - K a n t i a n i sm , b u t p h i l o s o p h y c h a i rs inm an y o t h e r i n s t i t u t i o n s wer e h e l d b y sy m p a t h i ze r s . I n d eed , wh i l ef e w R u s s i a n s w e r e g e n u i n e n e o - K a n t ia n s , m o s t p u b l ic p h i l o s o p h i c a ld i s cu s s i o n i n l ec t u re s an d o n t h e p ag e s o f s e r i o u s j o u r n a l s w as ca r r i edo n wi t h i n p a r am e t e r s s e t b y n e o - K an t i an i sm . 2

W h i l e t h e e f f o r t t o reco n c i l e p h i l o so p h y an d t h e n a t u r a l s c i en cesd e f in e d a c o m m o n te n d e n c y , t h e n e o - K a n t i a n i s m s m o s t w e l c o m ei n R u ss i a wer e t h o se wh o t i l t ed away f r o m m a t e r i a l i sm . B u t R u s -s i an th o u g h t s ec l ec t i c i sm g u a r an t eed o t h e r ap p r o ach e s a s w e l l.S p i n o z a , L e i b n i z , a n d m o d e m t h i n k e r s l i k e E d u a r d v o n H a r t m a n nwer e i n v o k ed t o ad d r es s q u es t i o n s o n t h e n a t u r e an d v a l i d i t y o fk n o w l ed g e , th e I s r e l a t io n t o t h e wo r l d o f p h en o m en a , th e n a t u r eo f co n sc i o u sn es s , an d t h e ex t en t an d r ea l i ty o f h u m an f r eed o m .

Th i s p ap e r w i l l ex a m i n e o n e sp ec if ic f ea t u re o f th i s d i scu s s i o n :t h e r e su r g en ce o f p an t h e i sm an d i ts im p l i ca t io n s f o r m o d e m t h o u g h t .Th e an c i en t n o t i o n o f a u n i v e r se an i m a t ed t h r o u g h o u t b y a s i n g l el if e - f o r ce o b v i o u s l y o f f e red a f r e sh ap p r o ach t o th ese q u es t io n s . F o rex am p l e , p an t h e i sm an d i t s v a r i an t p an p sy ch i sm p r o p o sed a r e la -t i o n sh ip o f t h e I t o t h e ex te r n a l wo r l d r ad i ca l l y d i f f e r en t f r o m o t h e rv i ews . Th e q u es t i o n s o f cau sa l i ty an d f reed o m l i k ew i se ap p ea r ed i na n e w l i g h t . T h e s e w e r e m a t t e r s o f g r e a t m o m e n t i n t h e w o r l d o fe a r l y S y m b o l i s m , w h e r e a r t a n d p h i l o s o p h y w e r e c l o s e l y l in k e d .

1. PHILOSOPHYAND THE NE W ART : BRIUSOVAND KONEVSKOIT h e R u s s i a n p i o n e e rs in t h e n e w a r t w e r e a p h i l o s o p h i c a l ly - m i n d e dco m p an y . W h i l e r ed e f i n i n g th e r o l e o f a r t an d t h e a r ti s t, t h ey so u g h ta l so t o f r am e a n ew wo r l d - v i ew . Two o f t h e n ew p o e t s , Va l e r i iB r i u so v an d I v an Ko n ev sk o i , l e f t w r i t in g s t h a t il l u m i n a t e t h ese t w i nen d eav o r s w i t h p a r t icu l a r c la r i ty , m ak i n g t h em c r ed i b l e sp o k es m e nfor the i r cohor t .

B y t h e e a r ly 1 9 0 0 s S y m b o l i s m w a s t he d o m i n a n t a r ti st ic m o v e -m en t i n R u ss i a , an d V a l e ri i B r i u so v ( 1 8 7 3 - 1 9 2 4 ) was i t s ack n o wl -


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SYMBOLISTDEBATES IN THE 1890 S 1 8 1

e d g e d le ad e r. T h e r o le o f I v a n K o n e v s k o i ( p e n n a m e o f I v a n O r e u s ,1 8 7 7 - 1 9 0 1 ) wa s a d i f f e r e n t o n e , so m e t i m e s l i k e n e d t o t h a t o fV e n e v i t i n o v in th e Pu sh k i n c i rc l e. Ac q u a i n t e d e a r l y w i t h E u r o p e a na r t a n d t h o u g h t , h e h a s b e e n r a n k e d i n re t r o sp e c t a m o n g R u ss i a ' s d i s-t i n g u i sh e d p h i l o so p h i c a l p o e ts . Af t e r h i s a c c i d e n ta l d e a th , a v o l u m eo f K o n e v s k o i ' s p o e t r y a n d p r o s e e d i te d b y B r i u s o v s e rv e d t o d e fi n eh i m f o r su b se q u e n t e r a s. R e c e n t r e se a r c h h a s a g a i n f o c u s se d a t t e n ti o non th i s g i f t ed poe t, an o r ig ina l f igure in a r em arkab le g ene ra t ion .

B y t h e t i m e h e m e t B r i u so v l a t e i n 1 8 9 8 , Ko n e v sk o i wa s a c o n -v i n c e d p a n th e i st , l i k e l y i n fl u e n ce d b y V l a d i m i r S o l o v ' ~ v ' s i m p o r t a n te s sa y o n t h e p o e t T i u tc h e v . 3 B r i u so v w a s f ir s t i n t e re s t e d i n S p i n o z a np a n t h e i s m b u t t h e n m o v e d o n t o L e i b n i z a n d i n d iv i d u a li s m . 4Ko n e v sk o i i n S t . Pe t e r sb u r g a n d B r i u so v i n Mo sc o w s t u d i e d w i t hV v e d e n sk i i , L o p a t i n , a n d G r o t , b u t t h e i r i n te r e s ts r e a c h e d w e l l b e y o n dthe l ec tu re ha l l .

W h a t S o l o v ' ~ v w r o te o f T i u tc h e v c a n b e a p p l i ed a ls o toK o n e v s k o i : H e f u l l y a n d c o n s c i o u s ly believed i n t h a t w h i c h h ef e l t . . . a n d u n d e r s t o o d i t n o t a s h i s o wn i m a g i n i n g b u t a s truth. 5T h i s b e l i e f w a s c o n f ir m e d f o r K o n e v s k o i b y h i s r e p o r te d m y s t ic a le x p e r i e n c e i n a T h u r i n g i a n m o u n t a i n f o r e s t i n t h e su m m e r o f 1 8 9 7, 6A Sy m b o l i s t p o e t ' s p a n t h e i sm i s e a s i ly r e a d a s a la t e f r u i t o f R o m a n -t ic i sm . Ye t K o n e v sk o i wa s a l so e n g a g e d i n t h e s e a r ch f o r a c o m m o ng r o u n d b e t w e e n s c i e n c e a n d p h i l o s o p h y a n d e v e n m y s t i c i s m . I nsh o r t , h i s p o s i t i o n t y p i f i e d t h a t o f a g e n e r a t i o n t h a t r e a d L a n g e ' sHistory o f Materialism a n d S p e n c e r ' s First Principles a n d s t u d ie dW i l li a m J a m e s ' s p s y c h o l o g y w h i l e w r i t in g S y m b o l i s t p o e tr y .

2. PANTHEISM AND PANPSYCHISM: THE WORK OF FRIEDRICHPAULSEN

I n t h e l a te r n i n e t e e n t h ce n t u r y , p a n t h e i sm f ig u r e d p r o m i n e n t l y a m o n gt h e ' a l t e r n a t e b e l i e f s ' a t t r a c t i n g t h o se o n w h o m t r a d it io n a l r e l i g i o n ' sh o l d h a d we a k e n e d b u t n o t t o t a l ly d i s so lv e d . 7 M o d e r n ' i d e a l is t i cp a n t h e i sm ' s ' p a r t i c u l a r a p p e a l l a y i n i t s c h a l l e n g e t o m a t e r i a l i sm ' se x c l u s i v e c l a i m t o t h e k e y s t o n a t u r e ' s s e c r e t s . T h e B e r l i n n e o -K a n t i a n F r i e d r i c h Pa u l se n b a se d h i s sy s t e m , w h i c h h e c a ll e d b y t h a tn a m e , o n S p i n o z a ' s t h e o r y o f m i n d - b o d y p a r a ll e li s m , la t e r m o d i f i edb y L e i b n i z a n d Gu s t a v e Fe c h n e r .


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182 JOANDELANEYGROSSMANP a n t h e i s m ' s m o d e r n E u r o p e a n h i s t o r y b e g i n s i n th e s ix t e e n th c e n -

t u r y w i t h G i o r d an o B r u n o , b u t i ts l a te r d ev e l o p m en t i s c l o se l y l i n k edt o t he n a m e o f B e n e d i c t ( B a ru c h ) S p i n o z a ( 1 6 3 2 - 1 6 7 7 ) . H i s v e r s io no f p a n th e i s m b e i n g c o n d e m n e d a s a th e i sm , S p i n o z a w a s o s tr a c iz e di n h i s l i fe t i m e b u t r eh ab i l i ta t ed d u r i n g t h e p a n t h e i s t co n t r o v e r sy i nGer m an y i n t h e 1 7 8 0 ' s . On e h i s t o r i an ca l l ed t h e r i s e o f Sp i n o z i smt h e n a p h e n o m e n o n o f n o l e s s si g n if ic a n c e t h a n t h e e m e r g e n c e o fK an t i an i sm i ts e lf . 8 H i s r ea so n s m i g h t ap p l y eq u a l l y t o a l a te r t im e :

S p i n o z a ' s p a n t h e i s m s e e m e d t o b e a v i a b l e m i d d l e p a t h b e t w e e n ad i sc r ed it ed th e i sm an d d e i sm o n t h e o n e h an d an d a ru t h l e s s m a t e r i-a l i sm an d a t h e i sm o n t h e o t h e r h an d . '9

F r i ed r i ch Pau l sen ' s n t ro d u c t i o n t o P h i l o so p h y of fer s a s t rong ,d e t a i led d e f en se o f p an t h e i sm , wh i ch h e p o s i t i o n s b e twe en m a t e r i -a l i s t and p ure ly sp i r i tua l i s t approa ches to the wor ld . F i r s t p r in t ed inG er m an i n 1 8 92 , i t was so o n t r an s la t ed in t o R u ss i an an d p u b l i sh edb y t h e M o sco w Psy c h o l o g i ca l So c i e ty . l An En g l i sh t ran s l a t io nap p ea r ed i n 1 89 5 w i t h a p r e f ace b y W i l l iam Jam es . J am es ' s r eac t i o ni s o f i n te r e s t, e sp ec i a l l y co n s i d e r i n g h i s au t h o r i t y i n R u ss i a a t t h a tt im e . D esp i t e a f ew s i g n i fi can t r e se r v a ti o n s , h e g r ee t ed P au l se n ' sb o o k wi t h en t h u s i a sm . F i r s t o f a l l h e s aw i n i t a co r r ec t i v e t o t h en a t u r a l s c i en ces ' d r i ft t o war d a t o m i s t ic m a t e r i a li sm , f o r wh i ch t h ep r o b l em o f co n sc i o u sn es s i s i n so lu b l e . M o r eo v e r , Pau l sen ' s co n cep -t io n i m p l i ed a v as t r e se r v o i r o f k n o w l ed g e i n th e co n sc i o u s u n i v e r se :

t h e So u l o f t h e l a r g e r t o t a l s ( t h e g l o b e wh i ch we i n h ab i t an d t h es t a r ry hea ven i t se lf ) i nvo lv ing ou r r a t iona l sou l s , as i t does , a l sok n o w s a l l t h a t o u r r ea so n l e t s u s k n o w an d m u ch m o r e b es i d es . '11

Jam e s h e r e r e f e r s t o a f ea t u r e o f p an t h e i sm t h a t h e l d m a j o r i n t e r e s tf o r th e l a te r n i n e t e e n th c e n tu r y . T h e t e rm ' p a n p s y c h i s m ' w a s b e g i n -n i n g t o b e u sed t o d en o t e t h e b e l i e f t h a t t h e u n i v e r se an d a l l b e i n g si n i t p o s ses s a sh a r ed i n n e r p sy ch i c l i f e 1 2 P a u l s e n ' s a r g u m e n t f o rp a n p s y c h i s m r e l ie s o n S p i n o z a ' s t h e o r y o f p h y s ic a l a n d p s y c h i c a lp a r a l le l ism . S i n ce th e n ew m ech an i ca l p h y s i c s d en i ed t h e p o s s i b il -i t y o f r ec i p r o ca l ac t i o n b e t ween t h ese t wo s ta t e s o f b e in g , h e c a l l so n Sp i n o za to ex p l a i n t h e u n d o u b t ed l i n k b e t we en t h em . B o d y an dso u l, acco r d i n g t o Sp i n o za , a r e r ea l l y t h e s am e t h in g , l o o k ed a tf r o m d i f f e r en t p o i n t s o f v i ew . A s t a t e o f m o v em en t an d a s t a t e o fco n sc i o u sn es s a r e a t b o t t o m t h e s am e p r o ces s , s een a t o n e t i m ef r o m wi t h o u t , a t an o t h e r f r o m wi t h i n . '1 3 B e g i n n i n g f r o m t h i s p o i n t


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SYMBOLIST DEBATES IN THE 1890 S 183P a u l s e n d e v e l o p s h i s a r g u m e n t t h a t c o n s c i o u s n e s s - ' s o u l - l i f e ' -m a y a n d m u s t e x t e n d o v e r t h e e n ti r e o r g a n i c w o r l d a n d f in a ll y o v e rt h e u n i v e r s e . 14

C l e a r l y d e l i g h t e d b y h i s c o n c e p t i o n a n d h i s a r g u m e n t , P a u l s e n a tt i m e s s li p s in t o a m o d e v e r g i n g o n t h e p o e t i c . I f o u r b o d y b e l o n g s t oa l a r g e r A l l , h e a s k s ,is our psychical life also articulated with . . . a more comprehensive system ofconsciousness? Are the separate heavenly bodies . .. bearers of a unified inner life?Are th e stars, is the earth an animated being? Th e poets speak of the earth-spirit;is that more than a p oetic metaphor? Th e Greek p hilosophers, am ong them Platoand Aristotle, speak o f astral spirits; is that m ore than the last reflection of a dreamo f childish fancy? 15H e a d d s c au t io u s l y : I t w o u l d b e p r e s u m p t u o u s f o o li s h n e s s t o t re a to f t h e s e s u b j e c t s i n d o g m a t i c d e f i n i t i o n s a n d a r g u m e n t s . S t i l l . . . an e g a t i v e d o g m a t i s m i s e q u a l l y o u t o f p l a c e . '16

F o r P a u l s e n a n d m a n y l i k e - m i n d e d th i n k e r s , p a n t h e i s m is n o t o n l ye s t h e t i c a ll y s a t i s fy i n g , i t i s t h e o n l y w o r l d - v i e w t h a t m a k e s s e n s e o fe v e r y t h i n g h u m a n k i n d n o w k n o w s a b o u t i t se l f a n d t h e w o r l d a n dt h a t a c c o m m o d a t e s t h e c o n s c i o u s m i n d . I t i s t h e o n l y o n e w h i c hh a r m o n i z e s s o u l - li f e w i t h t h e r e s t o f t h e w o r l d , a n d f o r t h e fi rs t t i m em a k e s i ts o ri g in a n d e x i s t e n c e c o n c e i v a b l e . W i t h p a n t h e is m , h ec o n c l u d e s , m i n d m a y f e e l a t h o m e i n th e w o r l d ; it m a y r e g a r d i t se l fa s f l e s h o f i ts f l e s h a n d b o n e o f i t s b o n e . '17

3 . IVANKONEV SKOI: MO DERN PANTHEISTF r i e d r i c h P a u l s e n ' s w o r k w a s s tu d i e d in , a m o n g o t h e r p l a c es , I a k o vE r l i k h ' s c i r c l e in S t . P e te r s b u rg , w h i c h I v a n K o n e v s k o i f r e q u e n te d .T h e g r o u p h a d a s tr o n g l y e x p r e s s e d i d e a l i s t a n d m y s t i c a l c h a r a c t e r,w i t h a le a n i n g t o w a r d p a n t h e i s m . S p i n o z a a n d L e i b n i z , S c h e l li n g a n dG o e t h e , V l a d i m i r S o l o v ' ~ v a n d P a u l s e n w e r e t he m o s t i m p o r ta n tn a m e s . '18 I f s o m e o f th e s e n a m e s c a s t a R o m a n t i c t i n g e o n t h e i rp a n t h e i s m , P a u l s e n ' s u p d a t e d v e r s io n o f S p i n o z a ' s p s y c h o - p h y s i c a lp a r a l l e l i s m s e r v e d t o a n c h o r i t i n a t h e o r y i f n o t v e r i f ia b l e , a t l ea s tl o g i c a l ly d e d u c e d , t9 A n d l o g i c w a s a n e c e s s i t y f o r m o d e r n p a n t h e is t -m y s t i c s l i k e I v a n K o n e v s k o i . I n t u i t i n g r e a li t y a s a p h y s i c a l - sp i r i tu a lw h o l e , t h e y w e r e b e n t o n p e n e t r a t i n g i t s i n n e r l i f e Y e t , b o r n l a t ei n t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y , t h e y h a d t o ta k e i n t o a c c o u n t n o t o n l y


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184 JO N DEL NEY GROSSM NSp i n o z a , Ka n t , a n d Go e t h e , b u t Da r wi n , Sp e n c e r , a n d t h e wh o l ec o m p l e x o f m o d e m sc ie n t if ic a n d p h i l o so p h i c a l th o u g h t .

T h e E r l i k h c i r c l e ' s e n t h u s i a s m w a s a s y m p t o m o f r e n e w e dR u ss i a n i n te r e s t i n Sp i n o z a . 2 C o n t r i b u t in g t o t h i s w a s V l a d i m i rS o l o v ' 6 v ' s 1 8 9 7 p o l e m i c a l r e s p o n s e t o A l e k s a n d r V v e d e n s k i i ' sa r t ic l e r e sur rec t ing the o ld cha rge o f a the i sm aga ins t Sp inoza . 21V v e d e n s k i i ' s a t t a c k p r o v o k e d S o l o v ' ~ v ' s ' P o n i a t i e o B o g e ' [ T h eC o n c e p t i o n o f Go d ] , su b - t i t l e d ' I n De f e n se o f t h e Ph i l o so p h yo f S p i n o z a . ' T h e c o n t r o v e r s y f o c u s s e d p r i m a r i l y o n V v e d e n s k i i ' si n s i s t e n c e t h a t Sp i n o z a ' s 'A l l - On e ' d i d n o t m e e t t h e c r i t e r i o n o fp e r so n h o o d i n Go d . C a l l i n g t h a t v i e w n a r r o wl y a n t h r o p o m o r p h i c ,So l o v ' e v p r o p o se s f o r th e D i v i n i t y t h e e p i th e t s v e r k h - l i c h n o , t h ea t tr ib u t i v e o f ' su p e r - p e r so n h o o d . ' O f p a n t h e i sm h e sp e a k s so m e w h a tn o s t a l g i c a ll y : T h e p a n t h e i s t ic s e n se o f c o m m u n i o n wi t h t h e a l l- o n esu b s t a n c e g i v e s a d e e p r e l i g i o u s e x a l t a t i o n t o t h e wo r l d - v i e ws o fsuch m inds a s Sp ino za ' s an d G oe the ' s . ''22

K o n e v sk o i o n c e l is t e d fo r a c l o se f r i e n d wh a t fo r h i m c o n s t i tu t e dl i f e ' s d e l ig h t s : C r e a t i v e wo r k , c o m p r e h e n d i n g th e W o r l d ' s so ul an dt h e m e a n i n g o f o u r e x i s t e n c e , p e n e t r a ti n g b y d i r e c t f e e l i n g i n to t h esec re t e ssence o f t h ings . '23 H ow eve r n a ive th i s s t a t ement , i ts u t te rs e r io u sn e s s i s n o t o p e n t o q u e s t io n . A l so w o r t h n o t i n g i s t h e c l o se l i n ki t a s su m e s b e t we e n c r e a t i v e wo r k ( p o e t r y ) , p h i l o so p h i c a l t h o u g h t ,a n d in t u it iv e c o g n i ti o n . D e s c r i b in g K o n e v s k o i 's m o n o l o g i s m a n du n i t y o f p e r so n a l i ty , A l e k s a n d r L a v r o v wr o t e: Ve r se , p r o se , c r it ic a la r t ic l e , d i a ry , l e t te r - a l l t hese w ere fo r h im m eans o f r e in fo rc ing h i so w n o b se r v a t io n s a n d t h o u g h t . '2 4 I n d e e d , f o r K o n e v sk o i p h i l o s -o p h y a n d p o e t r y we r e e s se n t i a ll y t wo s i d es o f th e s a m e c o i n , wh i l ei n t u i ti o n wa s t h e i n s t r u m e n t o f b o t h .L o n g b e f o r e h e k n e w Ko n e v sk o i , Va l e r i i B r i u so v c h i d e d P . P .Pe r t sov , t he ed i to r o f t he an tho logy F i l o s o f s k i e t e c h e n i i a v r u s s k o ip o e z i i [ P h i l o s o p h i c a l T r e n d s i n R u s s i a n P o e t r y ] ( 1 8 9 6 ) , fo r con-f u s i n g t h e n o t i o n o f p h i l o so p h i c a l p o e t r y w i t h v e r s i f i e d i d e a s t h a tcou ld be expressed a s c l ea r ly in p rose . Po e t ry i s r a the r a spec ia la t t it ude tow ard the w or ld , onese l f , t he un kno w able . '25 M uch l a te r ,B r i u s o v c r e d it ed K o n e v s k o i ' s i n f lu e n c e o n h i s o w n u n d e r s t a n d in go f p o e t ry : I a m i n d e b t to Ko n e v sk o i f o r te a c h i n g m e t o v a l u e th ed e p t h o f t h o u g h t in a p o e t ic w o r k , - i ts p h i l o so p h i c o r g e n u i n e l ysy m b o l i c m e a n i n g . '2 6 T h o u g h m o r e i n c l i n e d t h a n K o n e v sk o i t o


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S Y M B O L I S T D E B A T E S I N T H E 1 8 9 0 S 185i n si st o n p o e t r y ' s i n d e p e n d e n t a n d u n i q u e c h a r a ct er , B r i u s o v s h a r e dh i s c o n v i c t i o n t h at t h e p o e t p e n e t ra t e s t h e u n i v e r s e t h r o u g h e x p l o r-i n g h i s o w n s ou l. ( L e i b n i z 's m o n a d o l o g y p l a y e d n o s m a l l r o le inB r i u s o v ' s t h i n k i n g . )

T h o u g h v i rt u a ll y al l K o n e v s k o i ' s p o e t r y i s 'p h i l o s o p h i c a l ' inB r i u s o v ' s s e n se , h e t r i e d s e v e ra l t im e s t o s et d o w n h i s w o r l d - v i e wi n p r o s e . H i s e a r l i e s t e f f o r t a t t h i s ( 1 8 9 3 - 1 8 9 4 ) p r e s e n t s K a n t a n d' t h o u g h t ' a s th e h e r o e s a n d E d u a r d y o n H a r t m a n n ' s p e s s i m i s m a st h e v i l l a i n . T h a t p i e c e w a s e t h i c a l i n i t s e m p h a s i s . B u t i n a l e t t e ro f N o v e m b e r , 1 8 97 , K o n e v s k o i s tr es se d th a t h e w a s n o w p r e o c c u -p i e d w i th q u e s t i o n s o f t h e w o r l d -s t ru c t u r e a n d th e d e e p e n i n g a n ds h a r p e n i n g o f m y e s t h e ti c s e n s e. '27 F o r h i m t h e s e c o n c e r n s w e r ei n s e p a r a b l e a n d m u t u a l l y s u p p o r t in g .

H o w e v e r , w h e n a th i rd e l e m e n t - m y s t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e - e n t e re dt h e p i c t u r e , t h e s y m m e t r y w a s u p s e t . I n a l e t t e r o f O c t o b e r 1 8 9 8K o n e v s k o i c o n f e s s e d t h at t h is n e w , l o n g - d e s i r e d e l e m e n t h a d b r o u g h to n a d i s t u r b i n g c o n f l i c t t h a t s e r i o u s l y i n t e r f e r e d w i t h t h e l o g i c a lt h o u g h t h e a l s o p r iz e d . H e d e s c r i b e d th e e f f e c ts o f h i s p r o f o u n de n c o u n t e r s w i t h n a tu r e th e p r e v i o u s s u m m e r : W i t h g re a t a l a r m Io f t e n n o t i c e th a t t h is a c c e s s i n t o m y n a t u re o f w a v e s o f e l e m e n t a l ,n o n - h u m a n l if e b l u rs , t h r e a te n s t o w i p e o u t e n t i r e l y v e r y m u c h t h a t iss t ro n g l y c o n s c i o u s , m u c h p o w e r f u l lo g i c a l t h o u g h t . T h e n i n t o r tu r e dp r o s e h e v o i c e s h i s s u s p i c io n t h a t t hi s p e n e t r a t i o n o f n a t u re o c c u r sn o t t h r o u g h h i s o r g a n i z e d p e r s o n a l i t y , b u t t h r o u g h t h a t o t h e r s e l f

t h a t h a s c o n t a c t w i t h s o m e t h i n g im p e r c e p t i b l e t o m y u s u a l s e n s es.... t h a t o t h e r c o n s c i o u s n e s s t h a t a p p e a r s i n a s o m n a m b u l i s t ' s d r e a m

, , 2 8E a r l ie r , in Ju l y , 1 8 9 7 , K o n e v s k o i d e s c r i b e s in v e r y s i m i l a r t e r m s

h i s f ir st e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e T h u r i n g i a n f o r es t. A l o n e a t d u s k h e b e g a nc h a n t i n g l in e s f r o m T i u t c h e v a n d F e t:In those m om ents I felt that not I, no t that w hich ordinarily calls itself 'I ' , wasspeaking: strange, unexpected sounds burst from m y breast. Th is was no longerm y narrow , everyday 'I ' . Throug h me spoke som ething all-seeing: night itself.29

W i l l ia m J a m e s h a s p r o p o s e d f o u r c h a r a c t er is t i c s t o d i s t i n g u i sh ag e n e r i c m y s t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e : i n e f fa b i l it y , n o e t i c q u a l i ty , t r a n s ie n c y ,a n d p a s si v it y . 3 A c c o r d i n g t o h is o w n a c c o u n t , K o n e v s k o i ' s e x p e -r i e n c e f u l l y m e e t s t h e c r i t e r i a . J a m e s ' s s u b j e c t s c l a i m e d t h a t t h ee x p e r i e n c e d e f i e s d e s c r ip t io n , th a t n o a d e q u a t e r e p o r t o f i ts c o n -


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186 JOANDELANEYGROSSMANtents can be given in words. Konevskoi attempts here and in anothersketch a few days later, to describe not only his spiritual conditionduring the encounter, but his bodily sensations as well. Yet he readilyadmits that at the core of the experience lies something that cannotbe expressed verbally.31 The mystical states that James reports seemmore like states of feeling than states of intellect. Yet, he observes

in his second point, they seem to those who experience them to bealso states of knowledge. They are states of insight into depths oftruth unplumbed by the discursive intellect .... all inarticulate thoughthey remain. '32

James 's fourth criterion, passivity, includes 'preliminary volun-tary operations' such as those prescribed in manuals of mysticism.Konevskoi was not the naive mystic whose visions come all unsoughtor unforeseen. He had investigated the matter and undoubtedly knewabout the preparatory steps which all the great religious mystics havedescribed. His first mystical experience began with his chanting linesfrom the poems of Tiutchev and Fet. It is not quite clear whether thiswas a totally 'voluntary operation' or whether it was 'inspired' bythe atmosphere in which he found himself immersed. In any case, ashe relates, he soon found his conscious self a passive participant.Nonetheless, while searching for 'the secret essence of things,'Konevskoi seems almost to have been conducting a quasi-scientificexperiment. He describes a near encounter between two existences,infinitely distant from one another, from which he draws back atthe last instant. 33 As the moment of encounter approaches he reportsa sense of threat. Was it a threat to his personality's integrity?

The presumed existence of another self within has a long historyin world culture. However, accounts of manifestations that in Europedecades earlier would have been material for fantastic fiction nowdrew scientific attention, not least from the developing field of exper-imental psychology. In this new era, the so-called 'occult' was not atall the exclusive preserve of the eccentric, the fanatic, or the guile-less. In his letter of October, 1898, Konevskoi mentions the Germanscientist-turned-mediumist Baron Carl Du Prel. Author of bookson psychic subjects, Du Prel had a wide readership.34 Konevskoi 'sreference here to Du Prel's book p i r i t i sm testifies to his and hispeers' compulsion to follow any leads whatever that might throwlight on this mystery of the unconscious self.


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SYMBOLISTDEBATESIN THE 1890 S 187N o r we r e t h e se wa n d e r i n g s f r o m t h e c o m p a r a t i v e l y s t ra i g h t l i n e s

o f p h i l o so p h y a n d sc i e n c e c o n s i d e r e d a t th e t i m e t o b e a b e r ra n t . I tsh o u l d b e n o t e d t h a t b o u n d a r i e s b e t w e e n i n t e ll e c t u a l d i s c i p l in e s we r en o t n e a r l y so c l e a r t h e n a s th e y m a y l o o k i n r e tr o sp ec t . M o r e o v e r,t h o se wh o g r e w u p r e a d i n g Da r wi n , Ma r x , Sp e n c e r , a n d C h e r n y -sh e v sk i i a n d b e c a m e S y m b o l i s t o r D e c a d e n t p o e ts - o r c h e m i s ts ,o r b i o l o g i s t s - s a w t h e m se l v e s a s e x p l o r e rs o f a r a p i d l y e x p a n d i n gr e a li ty . Su c h p u r su i t s m i g h t l e a d a n y w h e r e . Mo r e o v e r , ' r e a l i t y ' m i g h tb e t h e m i n d , c o n sc i o u s o r u n c o n sc i o u s , o r t h e h u m a n p e r so n a l it y .

M e a n w h i l e , e a r l y i n 1 8 9 8 , K o n e v s k o i u n d e r t o o k a g a i n t o l a yo u t h i s w o r l d -v i e w . T h e t it le o f t h e r e su l t in g d r a f t e s sa y m a k e s c l e a rh i s p r e o c cu p a t io n w i t h c o n te m p o r a r y t h o u g h t: ' K r a e u g o l ' n y e k a n m im o e g o m i r o v o z r e n i i a ' [ ' T h e F o u n d a t i o n - S t o n e s o f m y W o r l d -v i ew ' ] , sub t i t l ed ' I -No t - I . F in i ty : S pace , T im e . '35 Th e fac t t ha t ,r e a d i n g t h r o u g h i t, o n e c a n e a s i l y t r ac e h i s so u r c e s d o e s n o t m e a n t h a tthe e f fo r t w as supe r f i c i a l o r t o t a l ly de r iva t ive . Lo ng a f t e r h i s dea th ,B r i u so v wr o t e t h a t K a n t , Sc h o p e n h a u e r , a n d N i e t z sc h e p r o m p t e dm u c h t h a t s e e m e d t o Ko n e v sk o i to b e h i s o w n t r e a su r e d t h o u g h t s. '36Ye t h e r e h e o p e n l y a c k n o w l e d g e d a n d a d d r e s se d t h e se so u r c e s a n dothers .I n t h i s p i e c e K o n e v sk o i t r i e s b r a v e l y t o c o n f r o n t t h e t h i n k e r s h erespec ted and , w i th o r wi thou t the i r he lp , t o a rgue o u t a pos i t i on tha tr e c o n c i le d h i s p a n t h e i sm wi t h h i s p r o f o u n d se n se o f th e h u m a n p e r -so n a l i t y ' s i n v i o l a b i li t y . T r a d i t io n a l p a n t h e i sm a s su m e d t h e e v e n t u a ld i s so l u ti o n o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l in t h e 'A l l - O n e . ' B u t i m p l i e d th r o u g h -o u t t h i s e s sa y i s t h e v i ta l q u e s t io n : H o w wa s t h e p a n t h e i s t t o m e r g ewi t h t h e u n i v e r se a n d a l so r e t a i n h i s i n d i v i d u a l p e rso n a ? T h e i d ea la n swe r , t o wa r d w h i c h Ko n e v sk o i g r o p e d , s e e m s t o r e q u i r e a c h a n g ei n t h e wa y h u m a n p e r c e p t i o n wo r k s - o r i n t h e wa y Ka n t s a y s i tw o r k s , w h i c h K o n e v s k o i d o e s n o t c h a ll e n g e .

h e a p r i o r i f o r m s , sp a c e a n d t i m e , wh i c h c r e a t e t h e b a r r i e r sbe tw een the ' I ' and the 'N o t - I , ' a re b r i e f ly e ra sed in ecs t a ti cm o m e n t s . T h e i r t o t a l a n n i h i l a t i o n wo u l d g o a l o n g wa y t o so l v ethe problem. Yet ,however much I experience ecstasies which may evoke in me the sense of universallife s tremor, there remains always before me something that, no matter if I shareeven in the life of that universal Being, still bars my way to that Being, is feltto be always overcoming my powers. That something is the force of space andtime, which determines the separateness o f my I and the fragmentation of its


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18 8 JOAN DELANEYGROSSMANperceptions ... . Perhaps that law 's force is no t all-powerful, but, in any case, noforce at o ur disposal can abolish it .37

F r u s t r a t in g a s t h is w a s , K o n e v s k o i c o n t i n u e d to s e e k a s o l u t i o nt h r o u g h th e t w o e x t ra - r a ti o n a l ' f o r c e s ' t o w h i c h h e h a d e s t a b l i s h e da c ce s s: p o e t r y a n d m y s t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e . H e c a m e t o c o n c e i v e a ne x p a n s i o n o f th e h u m a n p e r s o n a li ty w h i c h w o u l d m a k e i t c o e x t e ns i v e w i t h t h e ' B e i n g ' i n n a t u r e a n d p e r m i t t h e ir u n i o n . I n 1 9 0 0h e l a b o r e d o v e r a n a r t ic le c a l le d ' M i s t i c h e s k o e c h u v s t v o v r u s s k o il i r i k e ' [ ' M y s t i c a l F e e l i n g in t h e R u s s i a n L y r i c ' ] , w h e r e h e w r o t e :By 'mystical feel ing' is u nderstoo d a special sensit ivi ty to al l that is hidden fromordinary hu m an causal kn ow ing and average personal inst inct and perception. Itis the sense o f existing in states of consciousness lyin g outside the perception o fobjects possible in ordinary conditions. It is the u nio n of personal consciousnesswith the being o f its objects, the enlargem ent o f the sphere o f its self-awareness[ a m o c hu v s t v i i a ] 38T h e s e s t at es w e r e b ri e f, h o w e v e r : t h e f a m o u s m i g i [ i n s ta n t s ] o f th eS y m b o l i s t p o e ts . K o n e v s k o i w a n t e d m u c h m o r e .

4. BRIUSOV: PANTHEISM VS. PERSONA LISMS h o r t l y a f te r h is f ir st a c q u a i n t a n c e w i t h K o n e v s k o i ' s p o e t r y , V a l e r iiB r i u s o v d r a f t e d a n a r ti c l e in w h i c h h e p o i n t e d t o t h e p o t e n t ia l d i l e m -m a f a c i n g i t s im p l ie d w o r l d -v i e w : t h e s a m e w i th w h i c h K o n e v s k o is t r u g g l e d in t h e e s s a y ju s t c i te d . P r e s u m a b l y h e h a d n o t r e a d t h ee s s a y a n d s o f a r w a s u n a w a r e o f K o n e v s k o i ' s f r u st r a ti o n . I n s te a d ,a d m i r a t i o n a n d p e r h a p s a n o t e o f e n v y i s h e a r d i n h is d e s c r i p t i o n :Here is a b old and free l inking o f pantheism with the question o f personal being,pantheism with monadology. His wo rship of nature is everywhere . . . . The lo veo f mo untains, winds, the forest, the s ea , is the sam e as S helley's. B ut equallypowerful in him is the c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f h i s ow ego . 39W h e n f a c e d h i m s e l f w i th th is d i l e m m a , B r i u s o v o p t e d f o r L e ib n i za n d m o n a d o l o g y o v e r S p i n o z a a n d p a n t h e i s m . A n o t e i n h i s a rc h i v ee x p l a i n s h i s c h o i c e. I n p a n t h e i s m , h e h e l d , t h e p e r s o n a l i t y d i s a p -p e a r e d i n a f a c e le s s d i v in i ty , m a k i n g t h e so u l t h e p l a y t h i n g o f t h el a w o f c a u s a l i t y . '4

B r i u s o v w a s n o m y s t i c a n d h e d i d n o t s h a re K o n e v s k o i ' s w o r s h i po f n a t u r e ; in s t e a d , a n o t h e r f o r c e d r o v e h i m . A s o n e s c h o l a r a c u t e lyo b s e r v ed : B r i u s o v ' s i n d i v id u a l i s m , y o u t h f u l l y n a i v e a n d y o u t h -f u l l y a g g r e s s i v e , f o u n d i t s b a s i s i n h i s r e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f L e i b n i z ' s


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SYMBOLIST DEBATES IN THE 1890 S 1 8 9p h i l o s o p h y . '41 E n t h u s i a s m f o r L e i b n i z a n d h i s t e a c h i n g s w a s s t ro n ga t M o s c o w U n i v e r s i t y i n t h e 1 8 9 0 ' s o w i n g e s p e c i a l l y t o t h e i n f l u -e n c e o f P r o f e s s o r L e v L o p a t i n . B r i u s o v w r o t e h i s s e n i o r th e s is o nL e i b n i z u n d e r L o p a t i n 's d i r e c t io n a n d o b v i o u s l y h i s w o r l d - v i e w i nt h o s e y e a r s o w e d m u c h t o th e e x p e r i e n c e . L o p a t i n m o d i f i e d L e i b n i z 'sm o n a d o l o g y t o a l l o w c o m m u n i c a t i o n b e t w e e n m o n a d s , w h i l e m a i n -t a i n in g t h e i r i n d e p e n d e n t s ta tu s . H i s ( a n d o t h e r ) v i e w s a r e re f l e c te di n B r i u s o v ' s e s s a y ' O i s k u s s t v e ' [ ' A b o u t A r t ' ] ( 1 8 9 9 ):M an as a person is separated from others by seem ingly impassible barriers. The Tis self-sufficient, a crea tive force, that d raw s all its future from w ithin. The w orldis my representation. I am given on ly m y thoughts, m y sen sations, m y desires -nothing and never anything more. From this isolation the so ul passionately strivesfor com mu nication. In union w ith another is its bliss. An d un ion is possible.42

T h e c r u c i a l p o i n t f o r B r i u so v , a s f o r K o n e v s k o i , w a s t h e i n d e -p e n d e n c e a n d i n v io l a b i l i t y o f t h e l i chnos t , the p e r s o n a l i t y ; L e i b n i zp r o v i d e d a f o u n d a t i o n f o r t h is b e li e f . H i s f r i e n d M i k h a i l S a m y g i n , ap a n t h e i st , d i s c u s s e d w i t h h i m p a n t h e i s m , p e r s o n a l i ty , a n d l ik e s u b -j ec t s. I n o n e e x c h a n g e o f l e tt e rs t h e y d i s c u s s e d V l a d i m i r S o l o v ' 6 v ' s' P e r v o e n a c h a l o t e o r e t i c h e s k o i f i l o s o f i i ' [ ' T h e F i r s t P r i n c i p l e o fT h e o r e t i c a l P h i l o s o p h y ' ] , w h i c h b e g a n a p p e a r i n g i n 1 8 9 7. 43 B r i u s o vc o n s i d e r e d S o l o v ' 6 v i n s u f f i c i e n t l y d e f i n i t e a b o u t t h e i n d e p e n d e n te x i s te n c e o f th e ' I . ' H e w r o t e to S a m y g i n : " S o p a n t h e i s m is th i n k -a b le p o s s i b l e f o r t h e m i n d - T h e n h o w a m I t o s a v e ... m y l i chnos t[ p e r s o n a l it y ] , f o r I w a n t t o k n o w , t o k n o w u n c o n d i t i o n a l l y , t h a t th i sl i chnos t i s o n e , i n d e p e n d e n t , t h a t I a m a m o n a d . T h i s i s e s s e n ti a l tome. , ,44

B r i u s o v s o o n e m e r g e d f r o m h i s e x t r e m e L e i b n i z i a n p h a se . T h i ss t ro n g i n d i v i d u a l i s m l a t e r b l e n d e d w i t h o t h e r i n f l u e n c e s a n d p e r h a p sw a s m o d i f i e d b y s o m e . 45 Y e t h is w o r l d - v i e w r e m a i n e d s t a u n c h lyi n d i v i d u a l i s t , o r p e r s o n a l i s t , a t l e a s t f o r t h e n e x t d e c a d e , t h a t i s ,d u r i n g t h e a s c e n d a n c y o f S y m b o l i s m . T h i s a l o n e w a s e n o u g h t os e p ar a te h i m f r o m t h o s e - B e l y i , B l o k , I v a n o v - w h o b e l i e v e d t h e m -s e l v e s t h e h e i r s o f S o l o v ' e v ( t h o u g h B e l y i b e c a m e a n a r d e n t n e o -K a n t i a n a s w e l l ) . ' O i s k u s s t v e , ' t o w h i c h h e g a v e g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e ,w a s w r i t te n a t th e h e i g h t o f h is L e i b n i z i a n i s m . A s R . E . P o m i r c h i iw r o t e , th is e s s a y " a l l o w s u s t o e s ta b l i sh t h e d e p e n d e n c e o f B r i u s o v ' sv i e w s o n t h e n e o - L e i b n i z i a n , p e rs o n a l is t l i n e o f R u s s ia n p h i l o s o p h yo f t h e l a te n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y . '4 6


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19 JOAN D ELANEY GROSSMANI n R u ss i a n t h o u g h t o f t h e 1 8 9 0 s , a s i n th a t o f Ge r m a n y a n d o f

E u r o p e g e n e r a l l y , Ka n t wa s e v e r y wh e r e , i f o n l y b e c a u se h i s i d e a sprov ided the s t anda rd aga ins t which o the r ideas were t e s t ed . Ye t i fn e o - K a n t i a n i sm i n i ts v a ri o u s f o r m s r e i g n e d i n Ge r m a n y , i n R u ss i aec lec t i c i sm he ld sway . A s a l ready seen , Sp ino za , Le ibn iz , and o the r sp l a y e d k e y r o le s . No s i n g l e p h i l o so p h i c a l w o r l d - v i e w d o m i n a t e d , b u ti f so m e o f t h e m o r e i n t e r e s t in g t ri al m o d e l s w e r e d e v e l o p e d b y n o n -ph i losophers , t h i s was typ ica l o f t he Russ i an t r ad i t ion , where theove r l ap o f ph i loso ph y and l i te ra tu re has a long h i s to ry .

In the l a t t e r sphe re , t he g rea t c rea t ive d i sp lay o f t he nex t twodecades was in p repa ra t ion . Bu t be fo re tha t cou ld occur , a newsi tua t ion , a new wo r ld - space , fo r t he a r t i s t had to be c rea ted . Th i s w asn o m a t t e r f o r e a sy a g r e e m e n t . As a wh o l e , R u ss i a n S y m b o l i sm a f t e r1 9 00 t o o k a d i r e c ti o n d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h o se Ko n e v sk o i , B r iu so v , a n da few o the rs exp lo red . I t s t heurg ic a r t w as fa r r em ov ed f rom the a r tw hich w as cen te red in the sou l o f t he ind iv idua l a rt is t . Ind iv idu a l i smwa s t h e e s se n c e o f De c a d e n c e . Ye t t h e d e s i r e d b r e a k t h r o u g h i n t om o d e m i t y o c c u r r e d , wh a t e v e r f o r m s i t t o o k , a n d i t p r o d u c e d n e ww a y s o f t h i n k i n g a b o u t t h e s e l f a n d t h e u n i v e r se , i n n e r a n d o u te r. I fc red i t fo r th i s mus t be wid e ly d i s tr ibu ted , a subs t an t ia l me asure ye tb e l o n g s t o t h e a d v e n t u r o u s g e n e r a t i o n o f t h e 1 8 9 0 s .

N O T E S1 W hi l e h i s t o r i a ns a g r e e tha t t he on l y Rus s i a n ph i l o s op he r w h o c a n , s t r ic t l y s pe a k -i n g , b e c a l le d n e o - K a n t i a n w a s A l e k s a n d r V v e d e n s k i i , a m o v e m e n t to w a r d K a n tc a n b e f o u n d e l s ew h e r e , f o r e x a m p l e , in t h e r e v i si o n o f M a r x i s m u n d e r t a k e n b yS . N . Bu l ga k ov a nd t he dy na m i c s p i r i t ua l i s m [ in t he ph i l o s oph i c a l s e ns e ] o f L .M . L o p a t i n . S e e L . I . F i l ip p o v : ' N e o - K a n t i a n t s t v o v R o s s i i ' [ ' N e o - K a n t i a n i s mi n R u s s i a ' ] , i n K an t i Ka ntiantsy [Kant and the Kantians] e d . A . S . B o g o m o l o v ,N a uka , M os c ow , 1978 , p . 286 .2 E . I . Vod z insk i i : Russkoe n eokant iants tvo [Russian Neo-K ant ianism] L eningradU n i ve r s i t y P r e s s , L e n i ng r a d , 1966 , p . 6 .3 V l a d i m i r S o l o v ' ~ v : ' P o e z i i a F . I . T i u t c h e v a , ' Sobranie sochinenii [CollectedWorks] e ds . S . M . S o l o v ' e v a nd E . L . Ra d l ov , 2nd e d ., P r o s ve s hc h e n i e , S t . P e t e r s -b u r g , 1 9 1 1 - 1 9 1 3 , v o l . 7 , p p . 1 1 7 - 1 3 3 .4 V a l e ri i B r i u s ov : ' A v t ob i o g r a f i i a ' [ ' A u t o b i o g r a ph y ' ] i n S . A . V e nge r ov , e d . ,Russkaia l itera tura X X veka 18 90 -19 10 [Russ ian L i terature o f the X X Century1890-1910] M i r , M os c ow , 191 4 - 19 16 , vo l . 1 , p . 108 .5 S o l o v ' ~v , ' P o e z i i a F. I . T i u t c he v a , ' p . 118 .6 K o n e v s k o i r e c o r d e d th i s in a b r i e f sk e t ch , ' N a v o l o s o k o t z a d u s h e v n o i z h i z n i '[ ' A H a i r ' s - B r e a d t h f r o m E s s e n ti al L i f e ' ] , i n I v a n K o n e v s k o i : Stikhi ipr oza [Poetry


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SYMBOLISTDEBATESIN THE 1890 S 91an d Prose], S c o r p i o , M o s c o w , 1 9 0 4 , p p . 1 4 8 - 1 5 0 . R e p r i n t e d a s Sobran ie sochi-nenii [Collected Works], F in k Ve r la g , M un ic h , 1971 .7 Th i s t op ic i s t r e a t e d in Joa n De la ne y Gr ossm a n : A l t e r na t e B e l ie f s : S p i r i t ua l isma n d P a n t h e i s m a m o n g t h e E a r l y M o d e r n i s t s , i n Ch ristianity and the Eastern Slavs,vol . 3 , Modern Russian Literature, e d s. B o r i s G a s p a r o v , O l g a R a e v s k y H u g h e s ,R o b e r t P. H u g h e s , a n d I r i n a P a p e m o , U n i v e r s i t y o f C a l i f o m i a P re s s , B e r k e l ey ,f o r t h c o m i n g .8 F r e de r i c k C . B e i se r: The Fa te o f Reason: German P h i losophy f rom Kan t toFichte, Ha r va r d Un ive r s i ty P r e s s , C a m br idge , 1987 , p . 48 .9 Be ise r , p . 60 .10 P a u l se n s bo ok i s r e f e r r e d to by i ts R uss i a n t i tl e , Vvedenie v f i losof i iu (n.d.) inf oo tn o te s t o L . M. Lopa t in : P a r a l l e l i s ti c he ska ia t e o r i i a dush e vno i z h iz n i [ Th eP a r a l l e li s t Th e o r y o f S p i r i tua l L i f e ] , Voprosy f i losofi i i psikholo gii i , 28 ( Ma y ,1 8 9 5 ), p p . 3 6 1 , 1 6 7 . L o p a t i n s t ro n g l y o p p o s e d t h i s t h e o ry .11 W i l l ia m Ja me s : P r e f a c e to F r i e d r i c h P a u l se n : In troduct ion to Phi losophy, tr.F r a n k T h i l l y , 2 n d A m e r i c a n e d . f r o m t h e 3 r d G e r m a n e d ., H e n r y H o l t , N e w Y o r k ,1906, p. iv.12 P a n psy c h i sm wa s u se d f ir st c h i e f ly a s a t e c hn ic a l t e r m, w i th pa n the i sm o f t e ne m p l o y e d t o d e s ig n a t e b o t h n o t i o n s . H o w e v e r , t h e c o n c e p t i t s e lf c ir c u l a te d w i d e l yin the l a t e r n ine t e e n th c e n tu r y a nd a f te r . I n th i s c e n tu r y i t i s a s soc ia te d w i th na m e sl ike Jos i a h R oy c e , C . S . P e i r c e , A l f r e d Nor th W hi t e he a d , a nd P ie r r e Te i lha r d deC ha r d in .13 P aul sen , p . 58.14 Paulsen, pp. 95, 99.15 Paulsen, p . 106.16 Paulsen, p . 107.17 P a u l se n , pp . 23 4 - 23 5 .18 N . L . S t e p a n o v : B l o k i I v a n K o n e v s k o i [ B l o k a nd I v a n K o n e v s k o i ] , i nAle ksan dr Blok: No vye m aterialy i iss ledovaniia [New Mate rials and Research],se r ie s L i t e r a tu r noe na s l e ds tvo [ L i t e r a r y He r i t a ge ] , Na uk a , M osc ow , 1987 , vo l . 92 ,pt . 4 , p . 184.19 S o m e o f S o l o v ~ v s w r i ti n g s , e s p ec i al ly , h i s u s e o f t h e t e r m a l l - o n e , m a y h a v ec r e a t e d som e c on f us ion a m ong r e a de r s, pa r t i c u l a r ly o f h is do c to r a l d i s ser t a tion ,K r i t i k a o t v l e c h e n n y k h n a c h a l [ C r i t i c i s m o f A b s t r a c t P r in c i p l e s ] . A t t h e d i s -s e r ta t io n d e f e n s e o n e o p p o n e n t f o u n d h i s a r g u m e n t s t o o c l o s e t o t h e p a n t h e is t ict h o u g h t o f S c h e l li n g . S e e K r i t i k a o t v l e c h e n n y k h n a c h a l [ C r i t i c i sm o f A b s t ra c tP r inc ip l e s ] , Sochineniia [Works], e ds . A . F . Lo se v a nd A . V . Gu lyga , M ys l ,M o s c o w , 1 9 8 8 , v o l . 1 , p p . 7 1 3 , 8 4 8 - 8 4 9 . T h e f u l l t e x t o c c u p i e s t h e w h o l e o fSobran ie sochineni i , vol . 2 .20 F o r de t a i l s s e e S . K u l i u s : Va le r i i B r iu s ov i S p in oz a [ Va le r i i B r iu so v a ndS p i n o z a ] , Sbornik trudov SNO fi lo logicheskogo fakul te ta [Collec tion o f Works o fthe Stud ent Sch olars Society], Ta r tu S ta te Un ive r s i ty P re s s , Ta r tu 1977 , pp . 70 -98 .21 A . I . Vve d e nsk i i : O b a t e iz m e v fi l o so f i i S p ino z y [ O n Athe i sm in the P h i -l o s o p h y o f S p i n o z a ] , Voprosy f i losofi i i psikh olog ii , 37 ( 1897) , pp . 15 7 - 18 4 , a ndV l a d i m i r S o l o v ~ v : P o n i a t i e o B o g e , 3 8 , p p . 3 8 3 - 4 1 4 . ( T h e l at te r i s a ls o i nS o l o v ~ v s Sobranie sochinenii, vo l . 9 , pp . 3 - 29 . ) .22 Solo v ~v , Sobranie sochinenii, vol . 9 , pp . 23 , 16 .23 Qu o te d in N . L . S t e pa nov : Aleksan dr Blok , p. 182.


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92 JO N DEL NEY GROSSM N24 A . V . La v r ov : i n t r oduc to r y a r t ic l e t o 'P e r e p i sk a s I v . K on e vs k im ' [ 'C o r r e spo n-d e n c e w i t h I v a n K o n e v s k o i ( I 8 9 8 - 1 9 0 1 ) ' ], in Valerii Br iuso v i ego korrespondenty[VaIerii Briu sov a n d H is Correspondents] , Na uk a , M osc ow , 1 991 , vo l . 1 , p . 433 .25 Va le ri i B r iu sov : l e t te r o f Ma y 2 , 1896 , in Pi s m a V. Ia . Br iusova k P. P. Per tsovu[Letters o fV . Ia. B rius ov to P. P. Pertsov], ed . E Per t sov , Go s . Akad. Kdaud. Na uk,M osc ow , 1927 , p . 74 .26 Br iusov 'Av tob iogra f i ia , ' p . 112 .27 I v a n K o n e v s k o i , R u s s i an S t a te A r c h i v e f o r L i t e r a tu r e a n d A r t ( R G A L I ) , fo n d259, op . 1 , ed . khr . 2 . Le t te r to Alekse i Vese lov , November , 1897, f . 259 , op . 3 ,ed. khr . 79 ,1. 1 .28 L e t t e r o f K o n e v s k o i t o A l e k se i V e s el o v, O c t o b e r 9 , 1 8 9 8, R G A L I , f o n d 2 5 9 ,op . 3 , ed . khr . 79 , 11 .6ob-7 .29 K o n e v s k o i : ' N a v o l o s o k o t z a d u s h e v n o i z h i zn i , ' p p . 1 4 9 - 1 5 0 .3o Wil l iam James: The Varieties o f Re ligious Experience, C o l l i e r B o o k s ,M a c m i l l a n P u b l i s h in g C o m p a n y , N e w Y o r k , 1 9 6 1 , p p . 2 9 9 - 3 0 1 .31 I v a n K o n e v s k o i : ' N o v y i d u s h e v n y i r u b e z h ' [ ' A N e w Spir i tualFront ier ] ,S t ikh ii p r o z a , p p . 1 5 1 - 1 5 2 .32 James, Varieties o f Religio us Experience, p. 300 .33 K o n e v s k o i , ' N o v y i d u s h e v n y i r u b e z h , ' p . 1 5 2 .34 Car l Du Pre l : Die Phi losophic der Mys t ik , Le ip z ig , E . Gu n the r , 1884 ; R uss .tr. Filosofiia mistiki, M. S . Akse nov , Mosc ow, 1895 ; Eng . t r . The Ph i losophy o fMys t ic ism, C ha r l e s C a r l e ton Ma sse y , 2 vo l s . , Lo nd on , Ge o r ge R e dw a y , 1889 ; D e rSpirit ismus, Le ipz ig , P. R e c l a m Jun . , 1893 , R uss . t r . Spirit izm, M. S . Akse nov ,M o s c o w , 1 9 0 4. H i s w a s o n e o f j u s t f o u r n a m e s c i t e d b y V l a d i m i r S o l o v ' S v att he e nd o f the a r t ic l e on m ys t i c i sm in t he Entsiklopedicheskii slo va r , B r o c k h a u s -Ef r on , S t . P e t e r sbu r g , vo l . 37 , p . 456 . F o r f u r th e r d i s c us s ion o f Du P r e l a nd h i sR uss i a n in f lue nc e , s e e Joa n D e la ne y G r ossma n : Valery Bryuso v an d the Riddle o fRu ssian Decadence, B e r ke le y , Un ive r s i t y o f C a l i f o r n i a P r e s s , 1985 , pp . 1 53 - 155 ,t 63 - 16 4 , a nd Gr ossm a n : ' A1 e r na t ive B e l i e f s , ' f o r thc o m ing .35 R G A LI , f . 259 , op . 3 , ed . khr . 9 , 11. 12 -21 .36 Va le ri i B r iu sov : ' I va n K on e vs ko i ( 18 77 - 19 01 ) , ' i n S. A . Ve nge r ov : Russka ial i teraturaXX veka, vo l . 3 , p . 160 .37 I va n K one v sko i : Kr a e ug o l ' ny e ka m ni , ' 1 . 18 . Th i s t e x t , e xc e p t f o r t he l a s t l i ne ,i s wr i t t e n in a n c i e n t s c rip t , s e t ti ng i t o f f f r om the r e s t o f t he ma nu sc r ip t .38 Kone vsko i , Stikhi i proz a, p. 199.39 S . I . G ind in : 'S t a t ' i V . I a. B r iu sov a o Kon e vs ko m , ' Valerii Briusov i egokorrespondenty, vol . 1 , p . 550 .40 Valerii Br iuso v i eg o korrespondenty, vol . 1 , p . 39 1 .41 R . E . P om i r c h i i: ' I z i de inykh i ska n i i V . I a. B r iu s ova ( B r iu sov i Le ib n i t s ) '[ 'F r o m V . I a . B r iu sov ' s I n t e l le c tua l S e a r c he s ( B r iu sov a nd Le ibn iz ) ' ] , Briusovskiechteniia [Briusov Readings] 1971, Aias tan , Erev an , 1973, p . 164 .42 Valer i i Br ius ov , Sobranie sochinenii, K h u d o z b e s t v e n n a i a l it e ra t u ra , M o s c o w ,1 9 7 3 - t 9 7 5 , v o l . 6 , p. 52 .43 V la d imi r S o lov '~v : 'P e r vo e na c h a lo t e o r e t ic he sko i f i l o so f ii , ' Sobran ie sochi-nenii , v o l . 9 , p p. 9 1 - 1 6 6 . T h i s w o r k f ir s t a p p e a r ed i n Voprosyfi losofi i ipsikhologiia s t h r e e a r t ic l e s , i n nos . 40 , 43 , a nd 5 0 , i n 1897 , 1898 , a nd 1899 , r e spe c t ive ly .44 Valerii B riu sov i ego korrespondenty, vo l . 1 , pp . 391 - 39 2 .45 A top ic s ti ll t o be t r e a t e d i s t he r o l e o f N ie t z sc he in t he t h ink ing o f bo thB r i u s o v a n d K o n e v s k o i . I h a v e b r i e f l y d i s c u s s e d t h i s i n t h e c a s e o f B r i u s o v i n


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SYMBOLIST DEBATES IN THE 1890 S 193

Valery Bryu sov and the Riddle o f Russian Decadence University of CaliforniaPress, Berkeley, 1985, pp. 114-116,200-201. Konevskoi, who read German flu-ently, may have known Nietzsche s work earlier and better than did Briusov. Withthe help of archival materials I expect to explore this question further. Nietzsche sintroduction o Russia is treated in Nietzsche in Russia ed. Bernice Glatzer Rosen-thai, Princeton University Press, Princeton, 1986, especially in the chapter by AnnM. Lane: Nietzsche Comes to Russia: Popularization and Protest in the 1890s ,pp. 51-68.46 Pomirchii, p. 164.

S l a vi c L a n g u a g e s a n d L i te r a tu r e sUn i v e r s it y o f C a l i fo rn i aB e rk el e y C A 9 4 7 2 0US

Grossman - Neo-Kantianism, Pantheism, And the Ego

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Transcript of Grossman - Neo-Kantianism, Pantheism, And the Ego