From the Present to the Future: N.Ya. Danilevsky’s Image of the Future of Russia

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of the prognostic component of N.Ya. Danilevsky’s book «Russia and Europe». The article analyzes Danilevsky’s reflections on the past, present and future of Russia. Two images of Russia’s future are identified – positive and negative. The positive image of the future is associated with the formation of the Slavic cultural and historical type. The negative image describes the tragic consequences of imitating European culture. The author of the article examines the features of the specific pictures of Russia’s future and their dependence on social processes, which Danilevsky witnessed and participated in. Comparison of biographical information and significant events in the history of the country that occurred in the time of Danilevsky and his generation, allows us to draw conclusions about the factors that affect the formation of the future individual image.