The history of Soviet philosophy?

[Cirno(9)]

Sup yall,
I'm trying to find some good sources on the history of Soviet philosophy. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy has a good article under the name of "Russian Philosophy" and wiki has a decent overview but does anyone know of any sources that go deeper?


Philosophy in other 'Eastern bloc' countries would also be cool

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

I'll post a list later this week.

[Cirno(9)]

Thanks!

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

Cirno, apologies. I haven't forgotten my promise. I have been particularly busy this week. I will however get on to this at the weekend.:)

[heiss93]

See this link for sources:
http://marxistphilosophy.org/SovietPhil.htm

The absolute best source would be the journal Soviet Studies in Philosophy, which includes direct translations of soviet articles from 1960-present. You can check worldcat.org to see if a library near you has access.

[Kléber]

I believe the most comprehensive single relatively recent work in English on the subject is David Bakhurst's Consciousness and Revolution in Soviet Philosophy: From the Bolsheviks to Evald Ilyenkov (Modern European Philosophy). http://www.megaupload.com/?d=YKTZS6QY

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

Kleber, your link leads to a free music download.:(

[Kléber]

You clicked an advertisement masquerading as a download button. The real one is orange.

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

Ok, thanks!

Ah, but you need Winrar to open it.:(

[RED DAVE]

I remember a rather good book on Russian pre-revolutionary philosophy by T.G. Masaryk, who was President of Czechoslovakia as was his son. Anyone know if it's available online? I've never been able to find it.

RED DAVE

[ChrisK]

Ok, thanks!

Ah, but you need Winrar to open it.:(

Winrar is free to download.
http://www.rarlab.com/download.htm

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

Ok, Cirno, here's a list of books that might help you (including the one already mentioned):

Bakhurst, D. (1991), Consciousness And Revolution In Soviet Philosophy. From The Bolsheviks To Evald Ilyenkov (Cambridge University Press).

Graham, L. (1971), Science And Philosophy In The Soviet Union (Allen Lane).

--------, (1987), Science, Philosophy, And Human Behaviour In The Soviet Union (Columbia University Press).

Joravsky, D. (1961), Soviet Marxism And Natural Science 1917-1932 (Routledge).

Wetter, G. (1958), Dialectical Materialism (Routledge).

--------, (1962), Soviet Ideology Today. Dialectical And Historical Materialism, translated by Peter Heath (Heinemann).

Sheehan, H. (1993), Marxism And The Philosophy Of Science (HM).

The book by Joravsky is mainly about science, but it overlaps with philosophy, so you might find it of use. Sheehan's book covers a much wider field, but it also contains material you might find relevant.

Also check these out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy_in_the_Soviet_Union

http://lists.econ.utah.edu/pipermail/marxism-thaxis/2002-September/017763.html

[JimFar]

To the list can be added John Somerville's 1946 book, Soviet Philosophy, which gives a reasonably lucid statement of the then current Soviet positions on a number of different philosophical issues. It also provides coverage of the 1920s Soviet debate between the "mechanists" and the "dialecticians" (Deborinists). On the other hand, given that Somerville was very much a sympathizer with Stalin's regime, one can read that book without ever running into the fact that during the great purges, many Soviet philosophers disappeared into the gulags and were never heard from again.

[Cirno(9)]

Thanks everyone, I'll be sure to go check out the reccomendations and I am acquiring Bakhurst's right now.

By the way has anyone read Copelstone's book on Russian philosophy (which for some reason was never printed in the US)? He's a Jesuit but the rest of his history of philosophy series has been pretty good.

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

It's accurate, but uninspiring.