On the Question of the Beginning of Slavophilism: A.S. Khomyakov’s Article “About the Old and the New”

Abstract

The article deals with the question of the initial stage of the history of Slavophi­lism. Based on the contents of the letter by E.A. Khomyakova, found in 2000, it is concluded that the first handwritten article by A.S. Khomyakov “On the old and the New” was written in early 1837. This finding is the basis for the revision of ex­isting ideas that the Slavophile doctrine originated in the winter of 1839. Accord­ing to the author, this article by Khomyakov was a response to N.M. Karamzin’s note “On ancient and New Russia in its political and civil relations”. A compara­tive analysis of the main provisions of the content of these works is carried out. Karamzin’s views, according to the author, corresponded to conservative tradition­alism, which calls for the preservation of the existing order. Khomyakov’s ideo­logy corresponds to the archaic traditionalism that arises during periods of histori­cal development, when the attractive features of the social structure have been lost and one can only hope for their possible revival. The archaic proponent under­stands that it is no longer possible to revive the past in its entirety. His ideal is forced to adapt to the conditions of modern society. The article considers the reply message of I.V. Kireevsky “In response to Khomyakov”, which was written in the winter of 1839. The question of the general and special in the views of A.S. Khomyakov and I.V. Kireevsky is analyzed on the basis of the content of their first articles. According to the author of the article, criticism of the official ideology was one of the ideological sources of the formation of the Slavophile doctrine.