Deyan Penchev – The Philosophical Ideas of Vladimir Solovyov and Rudolf Steiner (book)

We present the Bulgarian book by Dr. Deyan Penchev

THE PHILOSOPHICAL IDEAS OF
VLADIMIR SOLOVYOV AND RUDOLF STEINER

This is the first scientific study that examines the philosophical views of the greatest Russian philosopher Vladimir Solovyov (1853–1900) and the great philosopher Rudolf Steiner (1861–1925). The two have very similar ideas, and Steiner spoke extremely positively about Solovyov, calling him a great philosopher, the philosopher with the most exalted notion of Christ, recommending anthroposophists to study him, and calling him a philosopher of the future.

Rudolf Steiner's philosophy is presented in Bulgarian for the first time, and its practical application is studied.

The book includes:

• A detailed examination of the basic philosophical concepts of Solovyov and Steiner
• Characteristics of knowledge in Solovyov and Steiner
• Solovyov's philosophy of the Absolute
• Solovyov's connection with Kabbalah and the mystical teachings
• Study of Steiner's main philosophical works: Truth and Science, Philosophy of Freedom, etc.
• The practical application of Steiner's ideas, the philosophy of biodynamic agriculture and others
• Steiner's statements about Solovyov, the first book about them and others

Book reviews:

"Penchev has embarked on a complex and still, even in the conditions of the post-totalitarian transition, for many conventionally thinking philosophers, non-standard or even challenging topic. He reaches for a "white field" in the history of philosophy, and not only on a national scale, and although provocative as a production with some solutions, the topic reveals that the author is not afraid to follow untrodden paths, instead of following the convenient formula of creating a mix of quotes from established critics of both authors."

"The author demonstrates a convincing ability for analysis and independent thinking. He managed to build a work whose epistemological significance is not limited to a retelling of their ideas, but is permeated by efforts to present to our scientific community a new look at their philosophical work and its cultural and historical significance for the modern era and future generations."

 

Prof. Dr. Erika Lazarova
Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, BAS

 

 

"In the book Deyan Penchev dwells on the views of Vladimir Solovyov and Rudolf Steiner on two fundamental philosophical problems – development and knowledge. On the basis of a detailed study of many separate texts and statements of Steiner, a successful attempt was made to synthesize his view of the immediate given and of intellectual contemplation. A particularly important part of the book is the one concerning Solovyov's ontological knowledge of the Absolute.”

 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Asen Dimitrov
Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, BAS

 

"Deyan Penchev clearly highlights the similarities in the philosophies of Vladimir Solovyov and Rudolf Steiner, without missing their differences, thus fully explicitly demonstrating the reasons for such a comparison. I think the focus of the monograph is actually the comparative analysis between Solovyov's free theosophy and Steiner's anthroposophy. The aim is to understand what they have in common, how it is possible (on what basis) to compare them and, ultimately, what all this contributes to our understanding of them. I think that Deyan Penchev did an excellent job in this respect."

 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vladimir Teoharov
Faculty of Philosophy, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”

Publisher: Издателско ателие Аб, Sofia, 2017. 

Pages: 245.

Language: Bulgarian. 

CONTENTS

 

Preface
Introduction

THE PHILOSOPHICAL IDEAS OF SOLOVYOV AND STEINER

I. Development as a fundamental factor

II. Solovyov's free theosophy and Steiner's anthroposophy
 

1. Free theosophy, free theurgy and free theocracy
2. Free theosophy and anthroposophy

III. Peculiarities of knowledge in Solovyov and Steiner

1. The three spheres of knowledge
2. The mystical knowledge
3. The periodization of knowledge and the development of the human soul according to Steiner

IV. Thinking and reality according to Steiner

1. The foundation of thinking
2. Immediate given and intellectual contemplation
3. The freedom

ONTOLOGY OF THE ABSOLUTE ACCORDING TO SOLOVYOV

I. The principle of truth

II. The essence of the Absolute

III. The categories of the Absolute. Sophiology. Connection with the mystical teachings

PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF STEINER'S IDEAS

Introduction

I. The principle of self-organization. Rudolf Steiner and James Lovelock

II. Philosophical foundations of biodynamic agriculture

III. The social organism. Pedagogy. The water. The Moon and the comets

SOLOVYOV AND STEINER

I. The first book about Solovyov and Steiner

II. Rudolf Steiner for Solovyov

Conclusion
Contributions
Book reviews
Gratitude
Vladimir Solovyov
Rudolf Steiner
References
Index of names
About the author

* * *

Deyan Penchev is a doctor of philosophy, author of more than 30 articles, including 6 for Vladimir Solovyov and 2 for Rudolf Steiner. His article was published in the specialized philosophical journal for Solovyov in Russia Соловьевские исследования (2014/2). Lecturer at philosophical forums, conferences, etc.

For contacts: deyan_penchev@abv.bg.

Foreword, Introduction, Contributions of the book.