Influence of the scientific and cultural paradigm of France on M. Voloshin’s philosophy of history

Abstract

Aim. The aim of the article is to actualize the French influences on M. Voloshin which played a key role in formation of his world view; to outline a circle of the French thinkers which had a direct influence on the poet's concept of historical philosophy.

Methods. The research technique was caused by the interdisciplinary approach involving historical-biographic, historical-functional, comparative, contextual methods.

Results. The scale of Voloshin’s historiosophical thoughts in poetry and journalism of 1917–1926 was caused by his enormous erudition and strong focus on history, in particular on history of the French revolutions. In the poet’s works, his reflections on tragic events of the early ХХ century and throughout the whole Russian history are based on a cross-cultural parallel. He pays significant attention to the reception of Russia and Russians by the French historians, writers, travelers and political figures. The formula of cyclic catastrophes (spiritual crisis, governing style of leaders, mass obsession with aggression), and the formula of Russia’s geopolitical behavior model (terror as a state ideology and a tool of power) was derived by M. Voloshin thanks to the works of J. Michelet, H. Taine, A. de Lamartine, J.-J. Rousseau, Gustave Le Bon, H. Martin, A. de Custine, Georges Lenotre etc.

Scientific novelty. The article presents the positions of French authors who affected the key principles of Voloshin’s philosophy of history for the first time.

Pactical significance. The article material can be used in literary, historical and philosophical studies devoted to assessments of catastrophes of the early ХХ century offered by eyewitnesses of the tragedies.