Lev Shestov in France: Reception of the Russian Philosopher’s Ideas (First Half of the 20th Century)

Abstract

The article is devoted to the acquaintance of French critics with the philosophy of Lev Shestov, who emigrated from Russia in 1919. Shestov’s ideas almost im­mediately resonate with French readers and over the course of several years the philosopher gains some fame; he is perceived as one of the most important fig­ures of modern original Russian thought, comparable in importance to M. de Un­amuno in Spain and J. de Gaultier in France. Shestov makes acquaintances with French and European intellectuals (J. Rivière, J. de Gaultier, L. Levy-Bruhl and others), collaborates with reputable French magazines “Mercure de France”, “La Nouvelle Revue française”, “La Revue philosophique de la France et de l’étranger”. Shestov has disciples and followers: B. de Schloezer, G. Bataille, B. Fondane, R. Bespaloff, A. Lazarev etc. The most important for his followers is the philosopher’s appeal to the personalities of thinkers and writers, and not to their ideas; “peregrination through the souls” as a philosophical method; the inextricable link between philosophy and life; criticism to reason and mora­lity; religious orientation and others. Shestov’s ideas become one of the sources of existentialism of A. Camus, works of A. Malraux and G. Marcel. Shestov and Fondane separate the philosophy of tragedy, identified with religious existential philosophy in the spirit of S. Kierkegaard, B. Pascal, F.M. Dostoevsky and M. Luther, from the existentialism of M. Heidegger, K. Jaspers and others.