Lecture: The Mystery of the Russian Soul

What is “Russian”? It’s not a simple question. Philosophers have tried more than once to describe the “Russian soul”: they saw in the Russian person a unique blend of freedom, faith, and a mystical perception of the world. But so far, no one has given an unambiguous answer to what defines the Russian character—and why it is like this.

How do impulses toward freedom and readiness for sacrifice coexist in the Russian soul? Is it true that our inner world is deeply connected with faith and fate? Why do we reach for high ideals but often get stuck in contradictions?

Together with philosopher Andrey Makarov, we’ll try to make sense of these questions—perhaps this will help you decide not only about the past, but also about the future.

At this lecture we will discuss:
— how thinkers of the Silver Age, from Solovyov to Berdyaev, explained the “Russian idea,”
— why the Russian character is not just a set of traits, but a living riddle,
— how faith, conciliarity, and the search for truth shape our “self,”
— what the cultural code of the Russian people is: religiosity or militant atheism; the search for absolute goodness or trust in “all kinds of scum”; apoliticism or revolutionary spirit.

A French writer, Eugène-Melchior de Vogüé, once, traveling through Russia, asked a Russian peasant: “How are we, French, different from you, Russians?” To which the peasant answered: “You, sir, worry when you don’t understand something. But we worry when we understand something.” This so inspired Vogüé that he wrote his “Russian Novel” and fell in love with Russia. The mysterious Russian soul is mysterious not only to foreigners, but also to us ourselves. Come, let’s talk about this riddle of the Russian soul.

Andrey Makarov

You will be taken on a journey into the depths of Russian thought. Don’t be afraid that it will be unclear: at Makarov’s lectures there is no complicated scientific language. The professor communicates easily with the audience, answers questions, and generously shares insights. And his sparkling humor makes every lecture unforgettable.

Andrey Makarov is a doctor of philosophical sciences, a professor, and a cultural studies scholar. He knows how to tell captivatingly about complex topics like logic, rhetoric, and philosophy. A regular speaker on “Direct Speech.”