Towards an integral philosophy
pp. 65-93
in: , The early Solov'ëv and his quest for metaphysics, Berlin, Springer, 2014Abstract
With his return to Moscow, Solov"ëv soon became embroiled in academic politics, taking a stand opposite to that of his own father, and began to express his view of Russia's destiny in world history, neither of which was advisable for an ambitious young academic. Resigning his position at the University out of some not quite discernable discontent, he took a post in St. Petersburg and began writing an aborted metaphysical tract outlining his philosophy, which proposed the synthesis of science, philosophy and theology with a substantial dose of sheer mysticism included – a synthesis he called "integral knowledge" – as the avenue to truth. Yet ever anxious to be involved and restless for action, Solov"ëv found the opportunity to serve as a war correspondent for a Moscow newspaper when action flared with Turkey in 1877. Soon realizing his total incompetence for such a role, he returned to Russia and resumed his "Philosophical Principles," enunciating his stand on an "intellectual intuition" that presented objects as they are in themselves. We look at this notion's roots in German Idealism and its ultimately unsatisfactory explication.