Crossroads of Emigrant Fortunes (Letters by Fedor Stepun to Boris Vysheslavtsev, Stepun’s Discourse on Bolshevism Appended)

Abstract

The two outstanding Russian thinkers of the 20^th century, Fedor Avgustovich Stepun (Friedrich Steppuhn) and Boris Petrovich Vysheslavtsev, shared not only many of their philosophic ideas, but the vicissitudes of fate as well. Both completed their studies of philosophy in Germany, both emerged as important figures in the Russian pre-revolutionary thought and both were expelled from the country on board the ill-famous “philosophers’ steamboat” in 1922. Once abroad, their lives took different courses, but they never lost view one of another. Either one in a different manner, they both pointed out that 20^th century is the time of the triumph of irrationalism which totally overwhelmed and suppressed what had been remaining of the rationalist and positivist 19^th century. According to them, it was the irrationalism which became the major cause of all the tragedies they witnessed. The author also publishes Stepun’s letters to Vysheslavtsev illustrating their intellectual affinity and mutual interest. In Appendix the reader will find published an hitherto little known text by Stepun on bolshevism.