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Sineokaya Yu.V. the Project of a “New Man” in the Russian Nietzscheanism

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Sineokaya Yu.V. The Project of a “New Man” in the Russian Nietzscheanism THE PROJECT OF A “NEW MAN” IN THE RUSSIAN NIETZSCHEANISM* Yu.V. Sineokaya Yulia Vadimovna Sineokaya – Doctor of Science (Philosophy), Professor of RAS, Deputy Director for Research of the Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Head of the Department of the History of Western Philos- ophy of the Institute of Philosophy at the Russian Academy of Sciences. E-mail: [email protected] The article examines the comprehension of the concept of the Übermensch by Russian philos- ophers. The author demonstrates that the Nietzschean project of creating “The New Man” has sig- nificantly affected the various trends of Russian philosophy, since the end of the nineteenth century and up till nowadays. The concept of the “Superhuman” provides a powerful lens and a tool for the scrutiny of the paradigm shift in Russian philosophy at the turn of 19th and 20th and 20th and 21st centuries, respectively. Key words: Russian philosophy, Friedrich Nietzsche, the Übermensch, the New Man, the Posthuman, the new myth, paradigm shift in philosophy, young conservatism, transhumanism, perspectivism, philosophical anthropology. DOI: 10.31079/1992-2868-2018-15-2-209-224 First, the day after tomorrow must come for me. Some people are born posthumously. Friedrich Nietzsche Idols and Ideals of Russian Intellectuals* cles to the works of Nietzsche – that his legacy was More than a century ago, Nikolai Berdyaev was promised no easy lot: “Nietzsche was virtually taken to shrewd enough to speculate in “Landmarks: A Collec- pieces; everybody utilized him for their own – domes- tion of Essays on Russian Intelligentsia” (Vekhi) tic – needs. It turned out, all of a sudden, that Nietzsche (1909) that Russian philosophical thought routinely was most applicable for the refreshment and resuscita- searched for goals and ideals in the domain of the tion of Marxism…I am afraid that the most metaphysi- Western philosophical tradition – perceiving these cal and mystical doctrines will also be employed in this philosophical doctrines in a subjective fashion, adapt- country for domestic use whilst the evil of the Russian ing them to the psychological distinctiveness of Rus- life, the malevolence of despotism and slavery will not sian intellectuals. “Marxism in Russia was subjected to be defeated through this, because it cannot be over- the populist reformation (narodnichestvo); economic powered by the distorted assimilation of versatile po- materialism was transformed into a new form of “sub- larized dogmas.” (Бердяев 1991, 25) It can hardly be jective sociology” … The conditions of Russian life refuted that Nietzsche‟s ideas, having vigorously made the flourishing of the objective social philosophy forced their way into Russian culture in the last decade and science impossible. Philosophy and science were of the 19th century, played a significant part not only in conceived of in a subjective manner, “a la intelligent- the field of abstract reasoning, but largely defined – sia”. (Бердяев 1991, 22) Among the philosophical and still continue to define – ideological and practical movements which affected the intellectual life in Russia constructs of Russian intellectuals. the most, N. Berdyaev recognized Leibnizianism, posi- The angles of reception and appreciation of the ide- tivism, Marxism, Neo-Kantianism, empirio-criticism, as of the German thinker by his Russian followers used and Nietzscheanism. These days, it seems reasonable to to change dramatically over the course of time: the add to this list existentialism, phenomenology, postmod- polarity stretches from scathing criticism and denuncia- ernism, and analytical philosophical tradition (Миронов tion (the end of the 19th century) to the exalted ac- et al 2017, 76) as well as the ideologies of traditionalism ceptance (the beginning of the 20th century) which, in and neoconservatism. Ultimately, it appears that nowa- its turn, was altered for the sixty-year-long ban and st days, at the close of the second decade of the 21 centu- taboo forbidding to read and quote him in Soviet Rus- ry, Berdyaev‟s assumptions turn out to be valid – true sia, that was alleviated only once, in the thirties and bona fide philosophy is the one that assists in solving forties of the twentieth century, when Nietzsche was current socio-political issues. converted into one of the most in-demand and sought It appeared indisputable – even at the very start, after – of all the German philosophers – targets: accu- upon the very introduction of Russian intellectual cir- sations of militarism, racism, chauvinism, and fascism poured forth from the pages of Soviet editions of pre- * Translated by E.Y. Malneva, Candidate of Science (Philology). 209 «The Humanities аnd Social Studies in the Far East». Vol. XV. Issue 2, 2018 war and war epochs. The liberal Perestroika, initiated is to follow orders and instructions of legislators, who by Mikhail Gorbachev, which served as an impetus for create a hierarchy of values that fit their needs. the scrutiny and popularization of the philosopher‟s The second phase – the symbol of which is, argua- essays at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, came to bly, a lion – is a challenging moment of “great libera- an end, having given way to the “Conservative Revolu- tion”. At this stage, the human spirit, shedding the skin tion” at the dawn of the new millennium that prompted and load of benumbed and “necrotized” ideals and an avalanche of passionate protests against neo-heathen idols, conquers freedom – in order to create “new val- slogans and the overall message of Nietzsche‟s philos- ues”; to substitute those reigning in contemporary soci- ophy, which were allegedly destroying European val- ety. The symbolic transmutation of a camel into a lion ues. Alongside this, for the past ten years the name of signifies the metamorphosis of Man into Superman. Nietzsche has been alluded to more and more often The next step would be the metamorphosis of a lion within the confines of our domestic research of trans- into a child; this is the stage of the genesis of the humanism. Übermensch. This is a moment of crisis and a turning Nevertheless, whatever the intellectual vogue and point. The person overcomes pessimism, depriving the appeal of Nietzsche‟s legacy in Russia, whatever him/her of life force and vigor. Having overthrown the connotations his name has evoked amongst our Rus- feeling of burden, having learned the art of triumphant sian scholars – the name of the “philosopher of the laughter and joyful acceptance of life, Man striving to problem, not of the system” 1 – for more than a century become Superman, ought to discard the yoke, throw now, the most discussed and inspirational idea of the away the iron heel of those doctrines which diminish latter has been his concept of the Übermensch; that is, the rights of an individual to free development and by all accounts, an intention addressed to the existen- growth under the auspices of egalitarianism of all peo- tial future of the humankind, expressed via formula ple. Aspiration to free will is a categorical imperative from his book Beyond Good and Evil: Man is an ani- of Nietzsche‟s new morality, the first formula of which mal – still not defined, still unidentified species. is denunciation of all morals and ethics existing prior. The idea of the emergence of a “New Man” – Homo The state of infancy symbolizes the dawn of a new life. sapiens perfectus – has been overwhelming the minds of A person initiates the conception of “new moral val- Russian revolutionary thinkers ever since 1860s – way ues”: goodness and truth are recognized as categories before the name of the German philosopher became sought for; not as given, once and for all, life land- well-known in Russia. The most perfect type of human – marks and reference points. in accordance with the fashionable evolutionary theories This ideal image of the forthcoming Übermensch – of the period in question – was seen qua the fruit of the so anticipated and desired by the Russian intelligentsia advanced development. That is the reason why Nie- – right since its inception was in possession of Nie- tzsche‟s claims – expressed in his work Schopenhauer tzschean features of a free, creative, and heroic nature. as Educator – regarding the goal of the advance of the This was definitely an antagonist of the human type human species being seen in the ultimate expansion and that Nietzsche condemned in his writings, dubbing the growth of the latter and in transcending the limits, be- latter “The Last Man”, for that person was seen as a coming the superior form on Earth; and that other idea selfish philistine, concerned with his/her own safety, expressed in his book The Dawn of Day – that Man is comfort, and wealth exclusively. the finite point of biological evolution, and his progress An important element for the Russian followers of is only possible within the confines of the existing spe- Nietzsche was the juxtaposition of the Übermensch – cies – turned out to be in tune with the spiritual quest of an individuality surpassing a mere human, hovering Russian intelligentsia. over (ὒber) – and his precursors, free liberated men, The famous myth of the transformation of the hu- free spiritually, not with the “Underhuman” (Unter- man spirit “The Three Metamorphoses” (from the first mensch), but with an all-too-familiar type of a bour- book of Thus Spake Zarathustra) was perceived by geois philistine (“the last man”). Despite the discrepan- many qua a symbolic path leading to the Superhuman. cy in features ascribed to the image of the New Man, During the first phase of ascension, the human spirit that several generations of Russian intellectuals fanta- is not unlike a camel, saddled and burdened, exhausted sized about, all of them beheld him qua a figure that and dog-tired.
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