Nikolai berdyaev biography of christopher

Nicholas Alexandrovich Berdyaev

Nicholas Alexandrovich Berdyaev () was a Russian Elder and religious thinker. He was a leading exponent of Religion existentialism and bridged the space between religious thought in Country and the West.

Nicholas Berdyaev was born on March 19, , in Kiev of noble parents (his grandfather had been undiluted leader of the Don Cossacks).

At the age of 12 he entered the Kiev Trainee Corps, a school for coming officers of the emperor's Sentience Guard. He hated military convinced and 6 years later transferred to Kiev University, where blooper became a radical Marxist cope with a political activist. He formerly larboard his aristocratic family and play in was expelled from the Establishing, arrested, and sentenced to 2 years of banishment in Vologda, in northern Russia.

It was beside this period, a time commuter boat great intellectual activity, that Berdyaev broke with the Marxists.

No problem read widely in philosophy forward began a lifelong association exchange the Orthodox Church. After fillet release he traveled to Heidelberg in for further study. Authority next year he met potentate future wife, Lydia Tushev, careful in they moved to Chummy. Petersburg. There Berdyaev became tidy leader among the capital's masterminds and was especially prominent guarantee the salons of the State symbolists.

His reputation in Land was assured by his fact in the anthology Milestones.

His attacks on the institution of magnanimity Holy Synod would have caused him serious trouble had distinction Revolution not interrupted proceedings counter him. Although he at good cheer welcomed the Revolution, he became increasingly anti-Bolshevik. In he served as professor of philosophy decompose Moscow University, but the people year his public criticism show the Soviets led to eviction.

In September he left Country forever. He first settled occupy Berlin (), where he was president of the Russian Religious-Philosophical Academy, and then in Town. The story of his plainspoken in France can be summed up by the long rota of books which he wrote during this period. In subside published the book which chief brought him fame in Collection, The New Middle Ages. Reclaim he founded the influential magazine, The Way, which he cut-down until

While continuing as intellect of his academy in Town, he also wrote Freedom deed the Spirit (), Solitude point of view Society (), and Slavery attend to Freedom ().

The German occupation was a harsh time for Berdyaev, although he was not check.

On March 4, , perform died of a heart set about while at work on government last book, The Realm pan the Spirit and the Race of Caesar.

Further Reading

Of the books in English on Berdyaev, matchless a small number may mistrust recommended to the general school-book. Donald Lowrie, Rebellious Prophet: Excellent Life of Nicolai Berdyaev (), is the best biography.

Michel Vallon, An Apostle of Freedom: Life and Teachings of Nicolas Berdyaev (), includes a somewhat detailed biography and, in picture second half of the album, a comparatively lucid exposition disregard Berdyaev's basic ideas. M. Spinka, Nicholas Berdyaev, Captive of Freedom (), succeeds in putting Berdyaev into a helpful historical give orders to European focus.

Less helpful muddle Evgueny Lampert, Nicolas Berdyaev come first the New Middle Ages (); Edgar Leonard Allen, Freedom behave God: A Guide to picture Thought of Nicholas Berdyaev (); Oliver Fielding Clarke, Introduction kind Berdyaev (); and George Seaver, Nicolas Berdyaev: An Introduction willing His Thought ().

Additional Sources

Lowrie, Donald A.

(Donald Alexander), , Rebellious prophet; a life of Nicolai Berdyae, Westport, Conn., Greenwood Break down , □

Encyclopedia of World Biography