The Phenomenon of War in Russian Philosophy: Ontological Foundations and Axiological Meanings

The article considers the ontological foundations and axiological meanings of the phenomenon of war, represented in the work of Russian thinkers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The author analyzes the ontological foundations and axiological meanings of war in the works of L.N. Tolstoy, F.M. Dostoevsky, V. Solovyov, N.A. Berdyaev, S.N. Bulgakov, F.A. Stepun and other thinkers of that time. Despite the difference in interpretations, the author emphasizes the common perception of war from the point of view of Russian philosophy in the paradigm of a common disaster that must be overcome by uniting the efforts of the entire people. War is considered as a necessary stage, having axiological significance, on the way to the kingdom of God, on the way to building a new just world order, having a purifying effect. Some interpretations of Western philosophers concerning the phenomenon of war are also analyzed. It is emphasized that in Western philosophical thought, war is considered as a “natural state”, as a population regulator, and is perceived as a game, including a game of God and superman. The conclusion is drawn that for Western culture, war is a natural state, it is a state–forming phenomenon, whereas in Russian philosophical thought, war is the overcoming of evil, it is the last step towards building a just society.