The Image of the Philosopher in the Letters of A. P. Chekhov

A. Chekhov is known as a classic of Russian literature, but modern research turns to the study of Chekhov’s philosophy. The main focus of such studies is focused on the analysis of the philosophical content of the literary work of the great writer. The present study shifts attention to the author’s letters: it is important to understand what he thought about philosophy and how he saw the image of the philosopher. This will make it possible to clarify the existing approaches to the study of A. Chekhov as a thinker. The article analyzes the texts of Chekhov’s letters. The context of the use of the concept “philosopher” is revealed and the main features of the philosopher in the representation of A. Chekhov are described. The results obtained are correlated with existing concepts based on the analysis of the works of the writer and playwright. Laziness, poverty, eccentricity, calmness in the face of adversity are features that form a collective image of a philosopher similar to the ancient Cynic or Stoic. These features arouse in A. Chekhov a predominantly ironic attitude, which is reflected in the intonation of the letters and generally coincides with the ideas of his works. The writer does not identify himself with the philosopher, although he is keenly interested in contemporary philosophical ideas and reflects on them through literary creativity. The author believes that A. Chekhov does not position himself as a philosopher, he is a “philosophical writer” , a follower of the great tradition of Russian literature laid down by his predecessors — A. Herzen, V. Belinsky, F. Dostoevsky, L. Tolstoy.