Occultism of the Silver Age of Russian Culture in the Evaluation of Nikolai Berdyaev

The article analyses Nikolai Berdyaev’s approach to occultism of the Silver Age, which he regarded as an ambiguous phenomenon. For Berdyaev, occultism was not merely charlatanism or psychopathology but a realm of unexplained phenomena that might...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Aleksander Posacki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences 2024-12-01
Series:Kultura Słowian
Online Access: https://ejournals.eu/czasopismo/kultura-slowian/artykul/occultism-of-the-silver-age-of-russian-culture-in-the-evaluation-of-nikolai-berdyaev
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1841554675895107584
author Aleksander Posacki
author_facet Aleksander Posacki
author_sort Aleksander Posacki
collection DOAJ
description The article analyses Nikolai Berdyaev’s approach to occultism of the Silver Age, which he regarded as an ambiguous phenomenon. For Berdyaev, occultism was not merely charlatanism or psychopathology but a realm of unexplained phenomena that might have significant spiritual importance. Berdyaev distinguished positive aspects of esotericism from negative influences of occultism. In his era, dominated by mysticism and Gnosticism, occultism and theurgy were subjects of intense spiritual quests. Berdyaev emphasised that magic, as a form of deterministic control over the world, differs from mysticism, which leads to divine freedom. The philosopher criticised the fascination with occultism, perceiving it as lacking true freedom. Berdyaev also explored the connections between occultism and magic, astrology, and demonology, analysing them in the context of personalism and spiritual freedom.
format Article
id doaj-art-f8d64910db6b48f3a4fe0e487b51d280
institution Kabale University
issn 2451-4985
2543-9561
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences
record_format Article
series Kultura Słowian
spelling doaj-art-f8d64910db6b48f3a4fe0e487b51d2802025-01-08T12:16:46ZengPolish Academy of Arts and SciencesKultura Słowian2451-49852543-95612024-12-0120241214710.4467/25439561KSR.24.002.20749Occultism of the Silver Age of Russian Culture in the Evaluation of Nikolai BerdyaevAleksander Posacki0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4482-4549 Collegium Verum The article analyses Nikolai Berdyaev’s approach to occultism of the Silver Age, which he regarded as an ambiguous phenomenon. For Berdyaev, occultism was not merely charlatanism or psychopathology but a realm of unexplained phenomena that might have significant spiritual importance. Berdyaev distinguished positive aspects of esotericism from negative influences of occultism. In his era, dominated by mysticism and Gnosticism, occultism and theurgy were subjects of intense spiritual quests. Berdyaev emphasised that magic, as a form of deterministic control over the world, differs from mysticism, which leads to divine freedom. The philosopher criticised the fascination with occultism, perceiving it as lacking true freedom. Berdyaev also explored the connections between occultism and magic, astrology, and demonology, analysing them in the context of personalism and spiritual freedom. https://ejournals.eu/czasopismo/kultura-slowian/artykul/occultism-of-the-silver-age-of-russian-culture-in-the-evaluation-of-nikolai-berdyaev
spellingShingle Aleksander Posacki
Occultism of the Silver Age of Russian Culture in the Evaluation of Nikolai Berdyaev
Kultura Słowian
title Occultism of the Silver Age of Russian Culture in the Evaluation of Nikolai Berdyaev
title_full Occultism of the Silver Age of Russian Culture in the Evaluation of Nikolai Berdyaev
title_fullStr Occultism of the Silver Age of Russian Culture in the Evaluation of Nikolai Berdyaev
title_full_unstemmed Occultism of the Silver Age of Russian Culture in the Evaluation of Nikolai Berdyaev
title_short Occultism of the Silver Age of Russian Culture in the Evaluation of Nikolai Berdyaev
title_sort occultism of the silver age of russian culture in the evaluation of nikolai berdyaev
url https://ejournals.eu/czasopismo/kultura-slowian/artykul/occultism-of-the-silver-age-of-russian-culture-in-the-evaluation-of-nikolai-berdyaev
work_keys_str_mv AT aleksanderposacki occultismofthesilverageofrussiancultureintheevaluationofnikolaiberdyaev