Lotman and Jakobson: romanticism, scientism and the ethos of science

Romantic scholar - this idea points to a paradox. It is a characteristic given by Yuri Lotman to Roman Jakobson but it is applicable to Lotman himself. Romantic aspects of Lotman’s views can be seen, for example, in his interest in dynamic interrelations, as well as in phenomena of pluridisciplinarity, plurilinguality and cultural translation. The idea of scientific romanticism may seem archaic but it is relevant to the present day because it preserves in human knowledge not only its scientific and technological components but all that connects it with the world of culture.