‘Consciousness of crisis – on idealism, love and reason in the light of Nietzsche and Dostoevsky: Andrei Belyi’s History of formation of self-conscious soul and Lev Shestov’s philosophy – points of similarity’

Abstract

This paper takes a thematic approach to Belyiʼs Istoriia stanovleniia samosoznaiushchei dushi (ISSD) by focusing on selected fragments in order to uncover some fundamental motifs characteristic of the Silver Age, and thus shared by thinkers of very different orientations. More specifically, a parallel is drawn between Andrei Belyi and Lev Shestov in their concern with the concepts of idealism, love and reason as viewed through the prism of Nietzsche and Dostoevskii – the writers who were of utmost significance for both. In identifying these motifs, several continuities and breaks in Belyiʼs outlook, as well as the prophetic character of the philosophical premonitions of both Shestov and Belyi, come to light.