The Russian Narodnik Movement Philosophy and Nihilism: Approaches to Personal Autonomy Problem

Abstract

The paper analyses specificity of the nihilistic doctrine interpretation in the Russian Narodnik movement philosophy in the context of the personal autonomy problem. In scientific literature, the Russian Narodnik movement philosophy is often identified with nihilism, which distorts true picture of the Russian philosophical thought development. Scientific originality of the study lies in the fact that nihilistic and Narodnik conceptions are examined through the lens of the personal autonomy problem. The conducted research allows concluding that nihilism accentuates individualism and personal autonomy, whereas the Narodnik movement philosophy focuses on social issues (social ideal, building a fair and equitable society) often abandoning the postulate of personal autonomy.