Neo-Leibnizianism in Russia: Two Projects of “Monadology”

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of the two “monadological projects” in Russian philosophy –
“Evolutionary Monadology” of N.V. Bugaev and the “critical Monadology” of P.E. Astafiev. Despite
the fact that they belonged to different fields of science (mathematics and psychology), their projects
were based on similar ideas. For example: the theory of discontinuous functions (arithmology) and
the theory of psychic rhythm; idea of Monad as a living unit with an active freedom of will; and the
critical rethinking of Leibniz’s “Monadology”. All of these moments reflect the distinctive features
of the still poorly studied movement of Russian Neo-Leibnizianism, and show the peculiarities of
Leibniz reception in Russia.