“The Concreteness of Metaphysics”: F.M. Dostoevsky in the Philosophy of N.A. Berdyaev and S.L. Frank

Abstract

The article considers the influence of Dostoevsky’s thought to the philosophy of N.A. Berdyaev and S.L. Frank. The crucial concept and experience of “living knowledge” and its anticipation in Dostoevsky’s heritage are discussed. Given that the problem of “living knowledge” overpasses the boundaries of pure gnoseology, we examines themes of ethical ideal, the meaning of religious belief and its existential significance. Besides that, in the article are presented three interrelated projects of theodicy in the Russian philosophy of 20th century (by N.A. Berdyaev, B.P. Vysheslavtsev and S.L. Frank). All of these projects are grounded in Dostoevsky’s thought. The supplement to the article consists of the first Russian translation of N.A. Arsenyev’s lecture “The central inspiration of Dostoevsky”.