Russian Slavophilism

Author: Bai Xiaohong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-04-01
Features: Slavophilism is an important and distinctive school in the history of Russian thought, forming in the mid-19th century during the historic debate over "Russia and the West." It emphasizes Russia's unique cultural and historical position relative to the West. The outstanding features of Slavophilism's philosophical thought are its opposition to Western rationalism with the concept of spiritual wholeness and its counter to Western individualism with the unity of Orthodoxy. Its social and political ideal is the harmonious and organic development of a monarchical society that preserves the village community and local assemblies. Its economic views are characterized by a contradictory economic ideology that both supports free labor and upholds the communal land tenure system. Slavophilism had a profound influence on the later development of Russian thought.