#Japan #Tokyo #Nikolai Fedorov #Lev Karsavin #Russian Cosmism

Bringing New Insights into the Debate on Death and Resurrection in Russian Philosophy

Recent research by Yuuki Fukui, an associate researcher at Waseda University's Faculty of Literature, delves into the captivating yet underexplored thoughts of two Russian philosophers, Nikolai Fedorov and Lev Karsavin. While both thinkers made significant contributions to the discourse surrounding death and resurrection, their perspectives have remained inadequately studied in Japan and globally.

Fedorov (1829-1903) and Karsavin (1882-1952) emerged as pivotal figures within the realm of Russian philosophical inquiry, both advocating for a fundamental overcoming of death, yet diverging in their interpretations of Christ’s death and resurrection. This research elucidates the nuances of their ideologies, revealing areas of overlap and divergence.

The Historical Context of Fedorov and Karsavin

Historically, Nikolai Fedorov's ideas gained traction in the 1990s, particularly within the sphere of Russian Cosmism, which emphasizes humanity's role in cosmic events, encompassing notions like space colonization and the control of nature. However, much of the philosophical underpinning of his work has been overshadowed and neglected. In contrast, Lev Karsavin, who spent much of his life in exile in Lithuania, has not received the same level of scholarly attention, despite his significant contributions to the discourse.

Both philosophers shared a mutual pursuit of transcending death, but Karsavin criticized Fedorov’s approach, referring to it as “the magical resurrection of the dead.” This critique hinted at the deeper philosophical rift between their conceptions, prompting a need for closer examination.

Groundbreaking Findings from the Recent Study

Fukui’s research investigates the acceptance and critique of Fedorov’s ideas in Karsavin's chief work, On Personhood (1929). By analyzing terms prioritized by Fedorov's followers, such as