ABSTRACT

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 participate in the historical process of Russia’s development, 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 exclusivity. 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.

摘要

本文讨论了费奥多尔·M·陀思妥耶夫斯基和弗拉基米尔·S·索洛维约夫关于那些声称参与俄罗斯发展历史进程的人需要进行文化和道德转变的观点之间的联系，以及对这些观点的当代解释. 陀思妥耶夫斯基和索洛维约夫都认为，俄罗斯注定要恢复基督教的普遍意义，带领基督教走出国家排他性的僵局。俄罗斯有能力在通向普世神权政治的道路上扮演弥赛亚的角色，从而为人类带来必要的精神提升。以陀思妥耶夫斯基的宗教思想为基础的索洛维约夫的神权梦想注定不会得到公众的支持。俄罗斯知识分子发现自己面临着这个问题，“我们活着是为了什么，我们必须做什么？” 陀思妥耶夫斯基回答了这个问题，随后是索洛维约夫：当这种斗争导致诉诸暴力时，我们必须放弃任何为文化理想而战的企图。那些负责改变生命的人必须在灵性上得到改变。任何其他道路都会导致社会和文化灾难。两位杰出的思想家——杰出的作家和著名的俄罗斯哲学家——的这些思想在当代俄罗斯具有了新的意义。对于今天的改革者来说，最重要的任务是恢复被破坏的价值体系（首先包括涉及公民人身自由的价值）。这意味着俄罗斯的文化复兴，没有它，社会转型将继续陷入恶性循环，一种暴力形式接踵而至。