S oloviev, V ladimir (1853–1900)

Abstract

Abstract Russian philosopher and poet Vladimir S. Soloviev (also transliterated Solovyov or Solov'ev) was born in Moscow. His father Sergei, one of the foremost Russian historians, was professor at Moscow University. After finishing Moscow University, Vladimir studied at the Moscow Theological Academy (a fairly unusual move for someone not from a clergy family). While researching in the British Museum he had a vision of Sophia (divine wisdom), which led him to Egypt where he had another vision (and nearly died at the hands of Bedouins). In 1878 he delivered a series of lectures on “divine humanity” (alternately translated as “God‐manhood” or “the humanity of God”) to an audience that included Dostoevsky and Tolstoy. He received his doctorate in philosophy from St. Petersburg University in 1880 with a thesis on The Critique of Abstract Principles . He was deeply influenced by German Idealism, particularly Schelling.