There Are No Atheists among Greatest Philosophers: Reasonings about Experience, Knowledge and Faith in the Letters of N.O. Lossky to G.V. Florovsky (1947–1955). Letters of N.O. Lossky to G.V. Florovsky (1947–1955), Publication and Notes by Elena V. Serdyukova

Abstract

In 1946, Nikolai Onufrievich Lossky moved from France to his younger son Andrey who lived in the United States, where Lossky taught at the St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary for several years. His correspondence with G.V. Florovsky continued, and, as before, they are connected by their friendship, teaching activities, and, most importantly, their scientific and philosophical interests. “Is it true that Russian philosophy is not scientific?” This question became crucial for N.O. Lossky during the “overseas” period of his life and work (1947–1955). His letters sent to G.V. Florovsky from New Haven, New York, and Los Angeles testify to his interest in the concrete metaphysical foundations of holistic (intuitive) worldview, within which faith and knowledge find their indispensable places. Lossky discusses in his letters Florovsky’s upcoming move to America and the organization of teaching philosophical disciplines at the St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. Furthermore, he draws Florovsky’s attention to how scientists of that time (A. Eddington, B. Bavinck, D. Jeans, M. Planck, P. Leconte du Nouy, and others) try to answer the question of the relationship between natural sciences (physics, biology, etc.) and the transcendental foundations of religious experience. In addition to this, Lossky is interested in Étienne Gilson’s “History of Medieval Philosophy” (which describes specific intellectual attempts to “reconcile” faith and knowledge) and the epistemological experience of Russian Freemasonry presented in G.V. Vernadsky’s book. And, of course, a special place in Lossky’s letters is devoted to the preparation of the book “History of Russian Philosophy” for publication in New York as part of the works series of the St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary.