On the philosophy of religion of Vladimir Solovyev: a critical analysis. Part two

The second and final part of this research is mainly devoted to a critical analysis of the principal project of Vladimir Solovyev’s “Christian policy” - a teaching on “free theocracy”, in which he vainly tried to pacify and make closer the Christian churches of the East and the West under the guidance of the Pope of Rome at the expense of the Orthodox Russian people’s religious self-sacrifice. Solovyev’s contacts with the Catholic world and publications of his pro-Catholic works in the West are explored. The philosopher’s futile attempts to fight against the traditional Russian Orthodox worldview and national consciousness after a complete rejection of his theocratic ideas are studied. The ideas of liberal social and moral progress, highlighted in the 1880s and contradicting a religious character of Solovyev’s teaching are investigated. The emphasis is also made on profound and yet inconsistent links between Solovyev’s religious and philosophical system of universal unity and Auguste Comte’s positivistic ideas. Points of similarity and difference with Nikolai Fyodorov’s Philosophy of the Common Task are shown. The final conclusion is that Solovyev’s renunciation of the former Chiliastic ideas in his last creative period marked by apocalyptic moods testifies the complete failure of his theocratic dreams.