Russian Philosophy in the System of Western Modernity: Towards a new Research Methodology

Abstract

This article discusses topical issues related to the search for a new methodology for the study of Russian religious philosophy. The current political context associated with the events that began in 2022 is associated with a new geopolitical confrontation between Russia and the West. However, it affects not only the political sphere, but also the sphere of culture, Russian religious philosophy, like Russian literature, runs the risk of becoming “victims” of a new ideological struggle. The article describes and analyzes the danger of politically biased studies of Russian philosophy, suggests new academic formats and research strategies that will help avoid ideological clashes and return Russian culture to the space of a single, academic Russian-European dialogue on new grounds. It is proposed to focus on the study of Russian philosophy in the context of the development of the main trends of modernity, the philosophy of Enlightenment and Counter-Enlightenment. A hypothesis is put forward that Russian philosophy is the “conservative pole” of European modernity, an independent tradition, but at the same time organically integrated into the integral European philosophical family. The use of new language strategies in the use of Russian philosophy is proposed: through the analysis of emancipatory and conservative intellectual methodologies of modernity, political theology, secularity and post-secu-larity. It seems that the heuristic potential of Russian philosophy research in these scientific areas can open up a new word in research on the links between Russian and European thought, while remaining faithful to the academic principles of political neutrality.