Personality as a combination of spirit and instinct (by I. A. Ilyin)

The article considers the concept of personality as I. A. Ilyin sees it according to his doctrine on the balance and combination of spirit and instinct. He reveals the subject matter of the doctrine in his work «Bolshevism as a temptation and death» after analyzing the revolutionary tragedy in Russia. The philosopher concludes that a personal instinct needs personal spirituality; the individuation of the instinct should occur along with the spirit individuation. Ilyin notes that the more the personality accumulates human social and cultural experience, the more significant he will be and, in his turn, this personality makes an individual contribution to the development of this experience. Focusing not only on spiritual, religious aspects, but also on social one, Ilyin greatly enriched the concept of personality, giving it a deeper and more meaningful sense.