Ontological Foundations of Freedom: The Metaphysics and Social Philosophy of S.N. Trubetskoy

Abstract

S.N. Trubetzkoy (1862–1905) – the outstanding Russian thinker and public figure. The author of
the original concept of “concrete idealism”, he is a staunch follower of the philosophical ideas of
V.S. Solov’ev. Trubetskoy is one of the best representatives of the national intellectual elite. In his
works he argues values of European modernity, the spiritual and political freedom of the individual
and society. According to the author, philosophical ideas and political beliefs of Trubetskoy are
single source. In the heart of the philosophical system of “concrete idealism” is specific logocentric
ontology of freedom. The liberal concept of political freedom grows out of the Christian intuition of
personal immortality. Trubetskoy defends independent significance of Russian religious metaphysics,
seeing in the Eastern Christian tradition of philosophizing the potential for ontological enrichment
of the rationalist thought in Modern Era. Thus, in philosophy, he shows the way of synthesis for
Russian and European thought, and in social life he protects the path of peaceful transformation of
the political system and development of Russian society.