Prince Yegeny Trubetskoy as a critic of Vladimir Solovyov's theocratic utopia

This article is devoted to a critical analysis of Vladimir Solovyov’s philosophical and religious views by Prince Yevgeny Troubetskoy, who was one of his close friends. Trubetskoy regarded his two-volume research work “The Worldview of Vladimir Solovyov” (1913) as a fairly objective analysis of the most popular Russian philosopher’s creative heritage by his friend and follower. The researcher remained faithful to Solovyov’s basic religious idea - the philosophy of Godmanhood, as well as to the generally liberal trend of his views, relying above all in his book on Solovyov’s notions expressed during his later, Apocalyptic period. While declaring his faithfulness to Solovyov’s philosophy of “universal unity”, however, Trubetskoy subjected his religious and philosophical teaching to a substantial criticism. His book evoked reproaches of Solovyov’s other friends, who thought its criticism too bitter to be regarded as friendly. Especially severe was his criticism of a Catholic influence on Solovyov’s philosophy and of those elements in his views which deviated from the ideal of universal Christianity. The focus of his criticism was Solovyov’s theocratic doctrine that was a fantastic project of the unity of the Western and Eastern Churches under the spiritual guidance of the Pope of Rome. At the same time Trubetskoy asserted that the system of Solovyov’s religious philosophy retained a strong residual influence of Slavophilism. A conclusion is made that Trubetskoy’s criticism is of especial value primarily as a friendly “correction” with the emphasis on those features of Solovyov’s religious philosophy, which are unacceptable for the Orthodox believer.