Leo Tolstoy as one of the Founders of the “Philosophy of Life” (Leo Tolstoy and Henri Bergson)

Abstract

The article considers the forming of the Henri Bergson’s philosophical conception expressed in his book «Creative evolution» and shows that its basic principles can be found in the treatises and diary notes by Tolstoy dated from 1880-1890s. In his work «About life» Tolstoy argues that there is priority of life as absolute basis for human being which appears to be inaccessible to the science. Tolstoy considers life spiritual substance possessing such features as unity and temporal development; naming life «God», Tolstoy understands the «God» immanent assembly of human persons. These ideas are very close to those of Bergson who understands life as the non-classic and enduring Absolute expressed in the assembly of human persons. The affinity of Tolstoy’s ethics and ethical conception of Bergson expressed in the book «The two sources of morality and religion» is also demonstrated. Both ethical conceptions suggest the men’s striving for the absolute completeness through the examples of completeness showed by separate outstanding individuals (religious prophets) as the highest aim of life. The hypothesis about possible influence of Tolstoy’s ideas on the forming of Bergson’s «philosophy of life» is formulated.