A.S. Pushkin about historical destiny of Russia and its special culture and civilization way

A.S. Pushkin was not only a brilliant poet, dramatist and novelist, but, possessing the gift of “prophecy and wisdom”, was still an outstanding historian and social philosopher, who throughout his life tried to find and show the whole of Russia worthy of its historical path. That is why, turning to his legacy, which is not yet fully appreciated in all its diversity and completeness, the authors of the article aim to clarify what is the peculiarity of the great Russian poet’s judgments about Russia, its place in the world historical process, its fate and purpose. The scientific novelty of the research is determined by the departure from superficial schematism and ideological dictatorship and the desire to take into account the whole range of statements and judgments of Pushkin about the Russian people and Russia, his uncompromising disputes with his contemporaries in the face of ideologists of the Decembrist movement, as well as the ancestors of Westernism and Slavophilism. The principle of dialogism permeates the whole article, allowing us to present the position of the poet and his opponents on the most burning philosophical, ideological and socio-political issues that have worried Russian society for many decades. As a result, it is established that Pushkin has his own original point of view on the historical past of Russia and the prospects for its development, which differs from the views of both Westerners and Slavophiles. The genius ability of the great Russian poet for a synthetic understanding of real historical process leads him to the idea that in the historical perspective, Russia should rely on both the Orthodox traditions of national culture and various innovations made by other peoples.