S.L. Frank in Search for the Spiritual Sense of the Great War

Abstract

The article describes the way to possible reconstruction of the First World War image by Russian religious philosopher S.L. Frank. The author proposes to apply not only for Frank’s war period articles but also for his works of 20-40-ies of 20th century in order to get entire idea of the Great War that Frank had. Special emphasis was laid to Frank’s polemics with neo-Slavophiles (V.F. Ern, S.N. Bulgakov) and related to discussion on the way of justifying the war. Frank stated to justify the war only in the sphere of morality as he believed that such large -scaled armed conflict might be acquitted only as a battle for high religious and moral principles. War is undesirable but necessary and nation ought to fight for its country. This point of view was based not merely on a specific perspective of war interpretation but also on typical for Frank metaphysics of universalism that was used for political sphere description. Every person should work hard in order to protect human morality and the laws of Christ. And Russia’s defeat was explained within the framework of this logic as Russia in Frank’s opinion was unable to remain committed to the truth and justice.