Vitalism of Apollon Grigoriev and Dostoevsky

The purpose of this article is to analyze the full range of meanings of the concept of “life” in the critical and literary texts by A. A. Grigoriev in connection with the influence of Schelling’s philosophy, to show his special role in the spread of the concept of “living life” in Russian culture. For the first time, Pochvenniki, including Grigoriev, are characterized in the article as a “vitalism party” (vita - life). In Russian literature this association refers to the people for whom the concept of “life” was essential. Though Pochvenniki were the followers of Slavophiles they used the word “life” without its ethical unambiguity that was present in the works of Khomyakov and Konstantin Aksakov. The article points to the interconnection between the concepts of “life” and ”pochva” (soil). In addition, both concepts are united by certain ambivalence (especially for Apollon Grigoriev). The evolution of the concept of “living life” occurs in the works of Dostoevsky. In the story “Notes from the Underground” (1864) the writer used this concept for the first time, later he repeatedly employed it in his works. This story is a “continuation” of Grigoriev’s poem “Upstream the Volga”. Dostoevsky in this thesaurus of the “living life” concept includes elements that are not emphasized by Grigoriev: harmonious (not ambivalent) love and forgiveness. This is because the concept of “life” in the works of Grigoriev and Dostoevsky goes back to different biblical archetypes (Eve and Christ). These conclusions are made for the first time, which conditions the novelty of the article and the relevance of the topic in focus.