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Jacob Böhme in Vladimir Solovyov’s Early Metaphysics

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Jacob Böhme in Three Worlds
This chapter is in the book Jacob Böhme in Three Worlds

Abstract

This study investigates philosophical and theological connections between Jacob Bohme and Vladimir Solovyov, arguably Russia’s most significant thinker. The article provides a reading of Solovyov’s early philosophy as expressed in his “Lectures on Divine Humanity” and seeks to investigate the possible presence of Bohme’s mystical thought within Solovyov’s project. The chapter starts with describing the cultural and historical background of Solovyov’s connection to Bohme as well as with evidence of Solovyov’s interest in and familiarity with Bohme. Then it provides an overview of certain elements of Bohme’s theological narrative - the concept of “Unground”; the idea of anxiety or struggle within God; Eternal Nature; Sophia; self-will and the origin of evil - and examines them step by step in Solovyov’s “Lectures”. In its conclusion, this inquiry points out ambivalence in the Bohmist elements in Solovyov’s own thought: it is impossible to deny Solovyov’s usage of Bohme’s ideas; yet, their distorted appearance in Solovyov’s text signals that he is ready to modify or misread them to make them fit better with his own eclectic narrative. Investigation into Bohme’s tropes within the “Lectures” reveals the legacy of Bohme’s reception in the 19th century as well as Solovyov’s own creative appropriation of the shoemaker from Gorlitz.

Abstract

This study investigates philosophical and theological connections between Jacob Bohme and Vladimir Solovyov, arguably Russia’s most significant thinker. The article provides a reading of Solovyov’s early philosophy as expressed in his “Lectures on Divine Humanity” and seeks to investigate the possible presence of Bohme’s mystical thought within Solovyov’s project. The chapter starts with describing the cultural and historical background of Solovyov’s connection to Bohme as well as with evidence of Solovyov’s interest in and familiarity with Bohme. Then it provides an overview of certain elements of Bohme’s theological narrative - the concept of “Unground”; the idea of anxiety or struggle within God; Eternal Nature; Sophia; self-will and the origin of evil - and examines them step by step in Solovyov’s “Lectures”. In its conclusion, this inquiry points out ambivalence in the Bohmist elements in Solovyov’s own thought: it is impossible to deny Solovyov’s usage of Bohme’s ideas; yet, their distorted appearance in Solovyov’s text signals that he is ready to modify or misread them to make them fit better with his own eclectic narrative. Investigation into Bohme’s tropes within the “Lectures” reveals the legacy of Bohme’s reception in the 19th century as well as Solovyov’s own creative appropriation of the shoemaker from Gorlitz.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. Preface IX
  4. List of Abbreviations XI
  5. I Central-Eastern Europe
  6. Ein unbekanntes Manuskript der letzten Böhme-Biographie von Abraham von Franckenberg 1
  7. “Our Dear Friend and Brother in the Lord”: Abraham von Franckenberg’s Reception of Jacob Böhme 25
  8. Angelus Silesius – ein Böhmist? 41
  9. Theosophie und Poesie: Böhmes Erbe bei Angelus Silesius / Johannes Scheffler 63
  10. Quirinus Kuhlmann als Böhmist 95
  11. „Alle Wortchristen sind Antichristen“: Studie zur Radikalisierung in Quirinus Kuhlmanns Traktat Der Neubegeisterte Böhme (1674) 109
  12. Jacob Böhme and Poland: An Untold Reception History between Angelus Silesius and Adam Mickiewicz 125
  13. Jacob Böhme im Karpatenraum 141
  14. Aspects of the Reception of Jacob Böhme’s Work in Sweden and Finland Before 1809 151
  15. Jacob Böhmes imaginäre Spuren in der estnischen Polit-Mystik des 19. Jahrhunderts 169
  16. Semjon Gamaleja: Übersetzer, Schriftsteller und Böhmist 189
  17. Jacob Böhme in Vladimir Solovyov’s Early Metaphysics 203
  18. II The Netherlands
  19. An “Impartial” Promoter of Truth: Friedrich Breckling and his Strategies in the Dissemination of the Writings of Jacob Böhme 223
  20. Johann Georg Gichtels Böhme-Rezeption als Theosophia Practica 239
  21. Jan Luyken’s Incompatible Desires of the Heart 253
  22. Johannes Rothé and His Twelve Heroes: Editors of Böhme after the End Times 265
  23. Epistolary Practices and Group Formation among the Eighteenth-Century Followers of Jacob Böhme: Johann Wilhelm Überfeld (1659–1731) and His Community of Rebirth 283
  24. III Britain
  25. “To Make Such Things Knowne in My Native Language”: Acquiring, Translating and Disseminating Böhme’s Writings in England and Wales 301
  26. Melancholy and Materialism: Henry More’s Critiques of the Teutonic Philosophy 323
  27. Himmel und Hölle bei John Pordage 351
  28. Thought Imagery: Vision and Knowledge in the Cosmogony of Jacob Böhme and Robert Fludd 363
  29. IV Böhme Today and Tomorrow
  30. How Is Böhme Relevant Today? The Peculiar Case of Philip K. Dick 387
  31. V Appendix
  32. Abraham von Franckenberg, Kurtz- jedoch gründtlich- und warhaffter Bericht, von dem Leben und Abscheid des in Gott seelig ruhenden Jacob Boemens, dieser Theosophischen Schrifften, eigentlichen Authoris und Vrhebers, Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica Collection Amsterdam 403
  33. Bibliography 421
  34. Photo Credits 479
  35. Index of Names 481
  36. Index of Places 491
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110720525-014

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. Preface IX
  4. List of Abbreviations XI
  5. I Central-Eastern Europe
  6. Ein unbekanntes Manuskript der letzten Böhme-Biographie von Abraham von Franckenberg 1
  7. “Our Dear Friend and Brother in the Lord”: Abraham von Franckenberg’s Reception of Jacob Böhme 25
  8. Angelus Silesius – ein Böhmist? 41
  9. Theosophie und Poesie: Böhmes Erbe bei Angelus Silesius / Johannes Scheffler 63
  10. Quirinus Kuhlmann als Böhmist 95
  11. „Alle Wortchristen sind Antichristen“: Studie zur Radikalisierung in Quirinus Kuhlmanns Traktat Der Neubegeisterte Böhme (1674) 109
  12. Jacob Böhme and Poland: An Untold Reception History between Angelus Silesius and Adam Mickiewicz 125
  13. Jacob Böhme im Karpatenraum 141
  14. Aspects of the Reception of Jacob Böhme’s Work in Sweden and Finland Before 1809 151
  15. Jacob Böhmes imaginäre Spuren in der estnischen Polit-Mystik des 19. Jahrhunderts 169
  16. Semjon Gamaleja: Übersetzer, Schriftsteller und Böhmist 189
  17. Jacob Böhme in Vladimir Solovyov’s Early Metaphysics 203
  18. II The Netherlands
  19. An “Impartial” Promoter of Truth: Friedrich Breckling and his Strategies in the Dissemination of the Writings of Jacob Böhme 223
  20. Johann Georg Gichtels Böhme-Rezeption als Theosophia Practica 239
  21. Jan Luyken’s Incompatible Desires of the Heart 253
  22. Johannes Rothé and His Twelve Heroes: Editors of Böhme after the End Times 265
  23. Epistolary Practices and Group Formation among the Eighteenth-Century Followers of Jacob Böhme: Johann Wilhelm Überfeld (1659–1731) and His Community of Rebirth 283
  24. III Britain
  25. “To Make Such Things Knowne in My Native Language”: Acquiring, Translating and Disseminating Böhme’s Writings in England and Wales 301
  26. Melancholy and Materialism: Henry More’s Critiques of the Teutonic Philosophy 323
  27. Himmel und Hölle bei John Pordage 351
  28. Thought Imagery: Vision and Knowledge in the Cosmogony of Jacob Böhme and Robert Fludd 363
  29. IV Böhme Today and Tomorrow
  30. How Is Böhme Relevant Today? The Peculiar Case of Philip K. Dick 387
  31. V Appendix
  32. Abraham von Franckenberg, Kurtz- jedoch gründtlich- und warhaffter Bericht, von dem Leben und Abscheid des in Gott seelig ruhenden Jacob Boemens, dieser Theosophischen Schrifften, eigentlichen Authoris und Vrhebers, Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica Collection Amsterdam 403
  33. Bibliography 421
  34. Photo Credits 479
  35. Index of Names 481
  36. Index of Places 491
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