Rezvykh Tat'iana

Posing the problem of time in S. N. Bulgakov: in the context of nature and freedom antinomy

Abstract

The author discusses a S. N. Bulgakov’s unique approach to the problem of time, consisting of an effort to resolve the problem basing on corollaries from Kant’s antinomy of nature and freedom, as well as on ideas of Schelling. Bulgakov views the time antinomically. It was his reflection on the meaning of Kant’s antinomism which led him to posing the problem of time. For the first time we find him treating this problem in his article Apocalypticism and Socialism, which dealt with antinomy of eschatology and chiliasm. Here also he starts to consider relation of time and eternity through antinomy of nature and freedom. In his Philosophy of Economy the same problem is solved by means of the concept of Sophia as the ontological basis of personality, which unites freedom and nature, the eternal and the temporal. But in his Unfading Light the antinomy of nature and freedom is discussed through differentiation between negative and positive theology. Bulgakov uses as a synthesizing concept Schelling’s idea of «eternal time» as unity of eternity and time. Thus, despite Bulgakov’s repeated statements about their clear distinction, time and eternity are drawn together. Such an attempt to solve the problem of time raises doubts about the very possibility of freedom.

Keywords

Sergei Bulgakov, Immanuel Kant, Friedrich Schelling, time, freedom, antinomism, eschatology, chiliasm, eternity, Sophia, apothatic and cataphatic theology.

References

1. Askol'dov S. A. 1913 “Vremja i ego religioznyj smysl” (Time and Its Religious Sense) in: Voprosy Filosofii i Psihologii, 1913, vol. 117, pp. 137–173.
2. Askol'dov S. Soznanie kak celoe. Psihologicheskoe ponjatie lichnosti (Consciousness as a Hole. Psychological Concept of a Person), Moscow, 1918.
3. Bulgakov S. 1905 “Bez plana” (Without Plan) in: Voprosy Zhizni, 1905, no. 3, 6
4. Bulgakov S. N. Dva grada: issledovanija o prirode obshhestvennyh idealov (Two Cities: Studies on the Nature of Social Ideals), Moscow, 2008.
5. Bulgakov S. N. Pervoobraz i obraz (Preimage and Image), Saint-Petersbourg, 1999, vol. 1.
6. Bulgakov S. N. Sochinenija: V 2 t. (Writings: in 2 vol.), Moscow, 1993, vol. 1.
7. Bulgakov S. 1907 “Na religiozno-obshhestvennye temy. I. Srednevekovyj ideal i novejshaja kul'tura” (On Religious-Social Themes. I. Medieval Ideal and Modern Culture) in: Russkaja Mysl', 1907, no. 1.
8. Bulgakov S. 1905 “Neotlozhnaja zadacha” (Urgent Task) in: Voprosy Zhizni, 1905, no. 9.
9. Bulgakov S., prot. Agnec Bozhij. O Bogochelovechestve (The Lamb of God. On God-manhood). Paris, 1933.
10. Bulgakov S., prot. Nevesta Agnca (Bride of the Lamb), Moscow, 2005.
11. Bulgakov S., prot. Radost' cerkovnaja. Slova i pouchenija (Churchly Joy: Speeches and Sermons), Paris, 1938.
12. Zima V. N. 2011 “Problema svoeobrazija uchenija o vremeni i vechnosti v vostochnoj patristike v kontekste jevoljucii terminologicheskogo apparata” (Problem of the Originality of the Teaching on the Time and Eternity in Orient Patristic in the Context of Evolution of Terminological Apparat) in: Vestnik PSTGU. I. Bogoslovie. Filosofija, 2011, vol. 3 (35), pp. 45–57.
13. Ivanova E. V. 1993 “Florenskij i «Hristianskoe bratstvo bor'by»” (P. Florensky and “Christian Brotherhood of Struggle”) in: Voprosy filosofii, 1993, vol. 6, pp. 153–166.
14. Kant I. Sochinenija: V 3 t. (Writings in 3 vol.), Moscow, 1964.
15. Kolerov M. A. Ne mir, no mech. Russkaja religiozno-filosofskaja pechat' ot «Problem idealizma» do «Veh». 1902–1909 (Not Peace but Sword. Russian Religious-Philosophical Press from “Problems of Idealism” to “Landmarks”. 1902–1909), Saint-Petersbourg, 1996.
16. Maksimov M. V. 2001 “Istoriosofija Vl. Solov'eva v otechestvennoj filosofskoj mysli” (V. Soloviev’s Historiosophy in Russian Philosophical Thought) in: Solov'evskie issledovanija, 2001, vol. 2, pp. 5–39.
17. Nosov A. 1996 “K cenzurnoj istorii religiozno-obshhestvennoj pechati (1905–1906 gg.)” (To Censorial History of Religious-Social Press (1905–1906)) in: Voprosy filosofii, 1996, vol. 3, pp. 35–43.
18. Solov'ev V. S. Polnoe sobranie sochinenij: V 20 t. (Complete Writings: in 20 vol.), Moscow, 2000.
19. Kejdan V. I. (ed.) Hronika chastnoj zhizni russkih religioznyh filosofov v pis'mah i dnevnikah S. A. Askol'dova, N. A. Berdjaeva, S. N. Bulgakova i dr. (Chronicle of the Private Life of Russian Religious Philosophers in S. Askoldov, N. Berdyaev, S, Bulgakov etc.’ Letters and Diaries), Moscow, 1997.
20. Shelling F. V. J. Filosofija otkrovenija (Philosophy of Revelation), Saint-Petersbourg, 2001.

Information about the author

Rezvykh Tat'iana