John Biggart, Peter Dudley, Francis King, eds.. Alexander Bogdanov and the Origins of Systems Thinking in Russia. Aldershot, England and Brookfeld, Vermont: Ashgate, 1998. x + 362 pp. $72.95, cloth, ISBN 978-1-85972-678-5.
John Biggart, Georgii Glovelli, Avraham Yassour. Bogdanov and His Work: A Guide to the Published and Unpublished Works of Alexander A. Bogdanov (Malinovsky) 1873-1928. Aldershot, England and Brookfeld, Vermont: Ashgate, 1998. vii + 495 pp. $85.95, cloth, ISBN 978-1-85972-623-5.
Reviewed by David G. Rowley
Published on H-Russia (May, 2000)
Alexander Bogdanov (1873-1928) -- scientist, tion of cultural hegemony.[2] Most importantly of philosopher, economist, physician, novelist, poet, all, in his Tektology: Universal Organization Sci‐ and Marxist revolutionary -- is mostly ignored by ence, Bogdanov ambitiously proposed that all general histories of Europe and Russia and gener‐ physical, biological, and human sciences could be ally appears only as a minor character in the unifed by treating them as systems of relation‐ more specialized works of Russian philosophy ships and by seeking the organizational principles and the Russian Social-Democratic movement. Yet that underlie all systems. His work anticipated in it seems that no one who becomes familiar with many important ways Norbert Weiner's Cybernet‐ his work fails to be utterly impressed by it. Most ics and Ludwig von Bertalanfy's General Systems Bogdanov scholars believe him to be one of the Theory.[3] most creative and profound European thinkers of Bogdanov also had the potential of making his age. important and humane contributions to Russia. Bogdanov was an original philosopher who His idea of Proletarian Culture suggested a non-vi‐ attempted to reconstruct Marxism upon a modern olent path to Communism,[4] his political princi‐ epistemological footing (replacing Plekhanov's ples were far more moderate than Lenin's,[5] and correspondence theory of knowledge with a so‐ his contributions to the theory of economic plan‐ phisticated reinterpretation of Ernst Mach's Em‐ ning, if taken into account by Soviet planners, piriocriticism).[1] His conception of the role that might have produced a viable and humane eco‐ culture would play in building Communism bears nomic system.[6] Bogdanov was a practicing med‐ a striking resemblance to Antonio Gramsci's no‐ ical doctor throughout his career and helped to H-Net Reviews organize the Soviet Union's pioneering Institute what was crucial was the lack of interest in the for Blood Transfusion. (He died in the course of gathering of information on Bogdanov's life and an experimental transfusion in which he ex‐ unpublished works. Research on Bogdanov's ca‐ changed his blood with that of a patient.)[7] Final‐ reer was extremely difcult. ly, Bogdanov was a poet and a novelist --once Like many another aspect of Russian life and again a pioneer -- in the genre of science fction. culture, it was only at the end of the Brezhnev era [8] that Russian scholars began to take an interest in Nevertheless Bogdanov's fame in the West Bogdanov andfnally to appreciate his contribu‐ has never extended beyond a rather small group tions to science and philosophy and his potential of specialists on Russian and Soviet intellectual contributions to Soviet society.[9] In the late 1980s history. Perhaps because he was an active Marxist two international conferences on Bogdanov (the revolutionary, he was ignored by his contempo‐ frst in Moscow and the second in London) rary European philosophers and scientists, and brought Russian and Western scholars together, his impact on the development of Western philos‐ and the Institute of Economics of the Russian ophy and science was nil. Academy of Sciences established an International In the Soviet Union, conversely, Bogdanov Commission on the Legacy of A. A. Bogdanov. was very well known indeed -- as a Bolshevik This collaboration of Russian and Western pariah. Ever after their famous break in 1909, scholars has produced two volumes that will be‐ when Lenin engineered Bogdanov's ouster from gin a new era in Bogdanov-studies: the frst a bib‐ the leadership of the Bolshevik faction, Lenin re‐ liography and handbook for research, the second, lentlessly attacked and denigrated Bogdanov's an appraisal of Bogdanov's contributions to sci‐ ideas. He saw to it that Bogdanov's philosophy ence. would always be branded as false, anti-Marxist, I cannot fnd words adequately to praise John and anathema for Russian Communists. Bog‐ Biggart, Georgii Gloveli, and Avraham Yassour's danov's works were published in the Soviet Union collaborative work: Bogdanov and His Work: A in the 1920s, but their infuence is difcult to Guide to the Published and Unpublished Works of gauge. Because the accusation of "Bogdanovism" Alexander A. Bogdanov (Malinovsky) 1973-1928. was career-ending, anyone who had been infu‐ This exhaustive bibliography, archive guide, and enced by Bogdanov's thought would have at‐ research handbook more than fulflls the most tempted to conceal it. utopian dreams of any scholar interested in the Thus, the general tendency of works on Bog‐ life and thought of Bogdanov. danov has been to consider the "might-have- The book begins with three introductory beens." How much more humane might the Com‐ chapters. In "The Rehabilitation of Bogdanov," munist regime have been had Bogdanov's politi‐ John Biggart surveys not only the evolution of at‐ cal, cultural, and economic ideas been put into titudes toward Bogdanov in the Soviet Union and practice? Russia but also Bogdanov historiography and bib‐ The ease of Western research on Soviet histo‐ liography in the West. Georgii Gloveli outlines the ry has always depended on not only accessibility chief features of Bogdanov's intellectual develop‐ to Soviet archives but also the interests of Soviet ment in "Bogdanov as Scientist and Utopian." Fi‐ archivists and bibliographers. The fact that Soviet nally, Nina S. Antonova and Natalya V. Drozdova historians took a negative view of Bogdanov was describe and discuss the "Collection of the Central not important in itself (Western and Soviet schol‐ Party Archive." ars often disagreed on points of interpretation);
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The heart of the work is a chronological bibli‐ cations of Boris Nikolaevsky's six-volume collec‐ ography of every known piece of writing to have tion of "Materialy" relative to Bogdanov's struggle come from Bogdanov's hand -- not only his pub‐ with Lenin for the leadership of Bolshevism, lists lished writings (including books, articles, book re‐ the full names of the Russian and foreign libraries views, and letters to the editor), but unpublished referred to in the bibliography, notes important notes, letters, drafts, and even cartoons. For each relevant reference works, and concludes with a item we are provided the Russian title (if titled), bibliography of publication of scholarly studies of English translation of the title or description of Bogdanov in Western languages. item (if untitled), and where that item can be All in all, this is a monumental achievement. found. If the item was published, full citations are John Biggart, Georgii Gloveli, and Avraham Yas‐ provided (if an article appeared in more than one sour will have the gratitude of all present and fu‐ journal, all references are given); the archival ture Bogdanov scholars. holding of the draft manuscript, if extant, is also If Bogdanov and His Work provides the tools given. For all unpublished manuscripts, complete necessary for researching the life and thought of archival information is provided for both Russian Alexander Bogdanov, its companion volume pro‐ and foreign archives. Whenever one of Bog‐ vides both explanations of why Bogdanov is danov's books was reviewed or one of his articles worth study and suggestions of further avenues of commented upon by his contemporaries, those re‐ inquiry. views or comments are cited as well. For most of Bogdanov's letters or unpublished manuscripts, Alexander Bogdanov and the Origins of Sys‐ an English summary is given (and frequently an tems Thinking in Russia, is the product of a con‐ English summary of responses to Bogdanov's let‐ ference on "The Origins of Organization Theory in ters). Cross references are made to previously Russia and the Soviet Union" held at the Universi‐ published bibliographies. The yearly bibliography ty of East Anglia, UK in 1995. The Russian and is followed by "Undated Materials," "Political Car‐ Ukrainian scholars who attended the conference toons," "New Editions, 1989-1998," and "Works in more than confrm the attitudes long held by Bog‐ Translation" (in 22 languages from Armenian to danov enthusiasts in the West. Their papers, Yiddish). though disagreeing on certain points of interpre‐ tation, are all tributes to Bogdanov's brilliance Three appendices are also invaluable. "Bog‐ and creativity. danov: A Biographical Chronicle," by Peter Alexandrovich Plyutto presents the key events of As the title suggests, the principal interest of Bogdanov's life, from birth to death, along with the contributors is the nature and importance of sources documenting those events (and, of course, what Bogdanov considered to be his greatest the archival or published location of those achievement: Tektology: General Organization sources). In "Aliases and Pseudonyms," Maya Science, but they also comment insightfully and Davydovna Dvorkina lists all Bogdanov's aliases productively on other aspects of his philosophic in chronological order and indicates the sources and economic thought.[10] of the information. In Appendix 3, "Archives, Li‐ The section on Bogdanov's philosophical braries, Sources," John Biggart provides a cross- foundations both evaluates Bogdanov's epistemol‐ reference to the former and contemporary names ogy (Empiriomonism) and investigates its relation of Russian state archives and libraries. He lists to Russian and Western European thought. To and describes private collections of papers relat‐ mention a few examples: James White discusses ing to Bogdanov, lists the relevant holdings of the Bogdanov's intellectual debt to Ludwig Noire, and Central Party Archive, discusses the nature and lo‐ both White and Vadim Sadovsky show that Bog‐
3 H-Net Reviews danov was struggling with the relation between One of the most impressive aspects of this exterior reality and inner consciousness in very book is the stature of the scholars who participat‐ modern ways. Simona Poustilnik discusses Dar‐ ed in the conference. Some of the most respected win's infuence on Bogdanov's thought, and Peter names in Russia appear--indeed, almost half of Plyutto compares Bogdanov with the Russian sys‐ the contributors are members of the Russian tems-builder V. I. Vernadsky. Academy of Sciences. They come from a wide va‐ The section "Applications in Economics" cov‐ riety of disciplines, including history, sociology, ers an aspect of Bogdanov's career that has to my economics, synergetics, systems analysis, and his‐ knowledge been ignored in the Anglophone aca‐ tory of the natural sciences. Moreover, it is a mark demic world-his contribution to the theory of eco‐ of contemporary Russian fascination with Bog‐ nomic planning. Andrei Belykh argues that Bog‐ danov that both of these works will be published danov made a profound impact on Soviet eco‐ in Russian translation under the auspices of the nomic thought and particularly on planning in "International Bogdanov Institute" which was the early 1920s. Saltan Dzarasov suggests that founded late last year in Moscow with the support Bogdanov was a forerunner of the theory of con‐ of the Institute of Economics of the Russian Acad‐ vergence because he proposed that economic emy of Sciences. planning and use of market relations should coex‐ However, the contemporary emphasis of the ist in a collectivist society. contributions somewhat limits the volume's use‐ "General Theory of Systems" discusses the fulness to historians of Russia. The articles and central issues of Tektology, Bogdanov's project to roundtable discussions were not intended to in‐ uncover the unity of the physical, biological, and troduce a Western audience to Bogdanov's human sciences by analyzing the basic patterns of thought. They are written by scholars very famil‐ organization that are common among them. Bog‐ iar with Bogdanov's works for other scholars with danov posited a fundamental oneness of reality, similar expertise. Moreover, the authors are, for asserted that scientifc laws and processes are iso‐ the most part, writing for their Russian contempo‐ morphic among all felds of science, and that the raries rather than for western historians of Rus‐ apparent diversity among the various branches of sia. That is, they are more interested in the validi‐ science is due only to narrow specialization and ty and present-day usefulness of Bogdanov's ideas incommensurable terminology. The scholars in rather than in the light that Bogdanov's works this section recognize Bogdanov's Tektology as a cast on Russian society and culture from the early revolutionary work that anticipated both cyber‐ 1890s to the late 1920s. netics (automatic information processing and con‐ Western historians will fnd it of interest in trol) and general systems theory (the idea that all two ways, however. systems--physical, biological, and social--operate First, Alexander Bogdanov and the Origins of according to the same principles). Some of the Systems Thinking in Russia provides Western ob‐ most intriguing implications of Bogdanov's servers a glimpse of contemporary Russian intel‐ thought are raised in Peter Dudley, "Tektology: lectual culture. It is only natural that a work deal‐ Birth of a Discipline?" Yunir Urmantsev, "Tektolo‐ ing with Bogdanov's Organization Science should gy and GST: A Comparative Analysis," Nemil Gore‐ approach his work from an objective, scientifc lik, "Tektology and Organizational Systems," viewpoint, but in their comments the authors re‐ David Schapiro, "A Tektological Approach to Mul‐ veal rather diferent preoccupations from the cul‐ ti-Connectivity and Dualism in Complicated Sys‐ tural and philosophic concerns of the West. Like tems." Westerners they are very interested in question‐
4 H-Net Reviews ing and deconstructing old paradigms and narra‐ and that this knowledge can be used to make it a tives, but unlike them they seem to take as un‐ better place. problematic the nature of consciousness and its Second, although Alexander Bogdanov and relation to exterior reality. Vadim Sadovsky, as I the Origins of Systems Thinking in Russia is likely mentioned above, does connect Bogdanov's epis‐ to be of immediate use mainly to Western evolu‐ temology to problems of post-modernism, but this tionary biologists, information scientists, and sys‐ is an aspect of his thought that receives very little tems theorists, it nevertheless may suggest to his‐ attention from the other contributors. Instead torians some interesting avenues of research. For they treat Bogdanov as a realist, concerned less example, the frequent references to Russian with the problem of how human thought con‐ scholars and thinkers of the late nineteenth and structs the world than with how the world is con‐ early twentieth centuries will be welcome starting structed in itself. points for those who would like to consider Bog‐ They represent Bogdanov as the last of the danov less as a Marxist revolutionary and more nineteenth-century systems-builders, and they as a Russian philosopher and sociologist of knowl‐ themselves are interested not only in systems sci‐ edge who also happened to be a Marxist. ence but in systems-building (among authors they Perhaps the feature to which scholars should take very seriously are Nikolai Fedorov, Vladimir pay particular heed is the short bibliography Vernadsky, and Lev Gumilev). In this regard it is "Publications in Western Languages" which ap‐ signifcant that, although the contributors to this pears in both volumes. Although not completely volume cite current Western scientifc work in in‐ up-to-date (it lists only one article published since formation science and evolutionary biology, they 1992) it appears otherwise to be fairly exhaustive. do not place Bogdanov in the context of contem‐ Yet it includes only 81 books and articles in Eng‐ porary Western philosophic and scholarly lish, French, German, and Italian. For a thinker, thought. Instead, they examine his relationship to scientist, and activist of Bogdanov's originality Comte, Spengler, Spencer, Schumpeter, and Jung. and depth, this is the merest beginning. There is It thus appears that the Russophone academic plenty of fertile ground for future research. Stu‐ community is looking for systematic explanations dents of Russian science, culture, and intellectual (modeled on the natural sciences) of historical de‐ life who are seeking topics for master's or doctor's velopment. theses will be well served by both these works-but I do not intend this comment as Anglo-Ameri‐ particularly by Bogdanov and His Work. can-centric criticism of these Russian and Ukrain‐ Thanks to the work of Biggart, Glovelli, and ian scholars for not sharing Western concerns. I Yassour, we can expect a revolution in the feld of merely point out that they have a diferent intel‐ Bogdanov-studies. Scholars are prepared as never lectual agenda. Indeed, the West could beneft before seriously to seek answers to the question: from their refreshing corrective to the Western How Important Was Alexander Bogdanov? belief in a disjuncture between language and real‐ Notes ity. The Western postmodern focus on reality as a discursive construction is a project that many in [1]. For discussion of his philosophy of knowl‐ the West fnd tedious, pointless, and perhaps even edge, see Eileen Kelly, "Empiriocriticism: A Bol‐ socially harmful. Much may be gained from shar‐ shevik Philosophy?" Cahiers du Monde Russe et ing Bogdanov's confdence that the world actually Sovietique, 22, no. 1 (Jan-Mar, 1981) and David G. exists, that its basic principles can be discovered, Rowley, Millenarian Bolshevism, 1900-1920_ (New York: Garland, 1987).
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[2]. Zenovia Sochor, "Was Bogdanov Russia's vik Utopia (Bloomington: Indiana University Answer to Gramsci?" Studies in Soviet Thought, Press, 1984). 22, no. 1 (Feb 1981). [9]. In Chapter 1 of Bogdanov and His Work, [3]. For a survey of Bogdanov's thought in this "The Rehabilitation of Bogdanov," John Biggart re‐ regard see S. V. Utechin, "Philosophy and Society: counts this process. Alexander Bogdanov," in Leopold Labedz, ed., Re‐ [10]. Here is the full table of contents: *Part visionism: Essays on the History of Marxist Ideas One: Introduction* John Biggart, "Introduction," (London: Allen and Unwin,1962). There are now Leonid Abalkin, "Bogdanov's Tektology: Towards two English versions of Tektology. George Gorelik a New Paradigm." translated one of Bogdanov's abridgments of Tek‐ *Part Two: Philosophical Foundations* Galina tology under the title Essays in Tektology. The Alekseeva, "Bogdanov and the Development of General Science of Organization (Seaside, Califor‐ Science in the Twentieth Century," James White, nia: Intersystems Publications Limited, 1984). A "Sources and Precursors of Bogdanov's Tektology," full English translation of the 1989 Russian edi‐ Vadim Sadovsky, "From Empiriomonism to Tektol‐ tion has also appeared: Bogdanov's Tektology, ogy," Natalya Kusminykh, "Monist Philosophy as Book 1, forward by Vadim N. Sadovsky and the Basis of Tektology," Simona Poustilnik "Biolog‐ Vladimir V. Kelle. Edited, with an introdcution by ical Ideas in Tektology," Peter Plyutto "Pioneers in Peter Dudley (Hull, UK: Center for Systems Stud‐ systems Thinking: Bogdanov and Vernadsky," and ies, 1996). Georgii Gloveli "Psychological Applications of Tek‐ However, Bogdanov's insights into systems tology." science had no real impact upon the West. It *Part Three: Applications to Economics* seems certain that Norbert Weiner was unfamil‐ Nadezhda Figurovskaya, "The Economic Ideas of iar with his work, and Nikita Moiseev (in his con‐ Bogdanov," Andrei Belykh, "Bogdanov's Tektology tribution to Alexander Bogdanov and the Origins and Economic Theory," Vladimir Maevsky, "Bog‐ of Systems Thinking in Russia) is the only scholar danov and the Theory of Economic Evolution," who asserts that Ludwig von Bertalanfy "must Saltan Dzarasov, "Plan and Market in Bogdanov's have known of Bogdanov's work." The consensus Tektology," and Victor Parmenov "Tektology and holds that Bertalanfy did not. Economic Reconstruction." [4]. See David G. Rowley, "Lenin and Bog‐ *Part Four: General Theory of Systems* Nikita danov: Epistemology and Revolution," Studies in Moiseev, "Tektology in contemporary perspec‐ East European Thought, 48, no. 1 (March 1996). tive," Peter Dudley, "Tektology: Birth of a Disci‐ [5]. See Zenovia Sochor, Revolution and Cul‐ pline?" Yunir Urmantsev, "Tektology and GST: A ture: The Bogdanov-Lenin Controversy (Ithaca, Comparative Analysis," Nemil Gorelik, "Tektology N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1988). and organizational systems," David Schapiro, "A [6]. See the articles by Andrei Belykh and Tektological Approach to Multi-Connectivity and Saltan Dzarasov (listed below) in the volume un‐ Dualism in Complicated Systems." Mikhail der review. Kuzmin, "Social Genetics and Organizational Sci‐ [7]. See Douglas W. Huestis, "The Life and ence." Death of Alexander Bogdanov, Physician, Journal *Part 5: Appendices* John Biggart "Tektology: of Medical Biography, 4, no. 3 (1996). Editions and Translations," John Biggart and Fran‐ [8]. Loren R. Graham and Richard Stites, eds., cis King, "Profles of Russian scientists and Alexander Bogdanov: Red Star: The First Bolshe‐ Philosophers."
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Citation: David G. Rowley. Review of Biggart, John; Dudley, Peter; King, Francis, eds. Alexander Bogdanov and the Origins of Systems Thinking in Russia. ; Biggart, John; Glovelli, Georgii; Yassour, Avraham. Bogdanov and His Work: A Guide to the Published and Unpublished Works of Alexander A. Bogdanov (Malinovsky) 1873-1928. H-Russia, H-Net Reviews. May, 2000.
URL: https://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=4154
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