StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Lev Shestov and Democratization of Thought - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
This paper “Lev Shestov and Democratization of Thought” seeks to analyze an excerpt from the essay “The Force of Argument”, which seeks to establish a dialogue between himself and the German philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer, whose views Shestov was not in agreement with…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER94.9% of users find it useful
Lev Shestov and Democratization of Thought
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Lev Shestov and Democratization of Thought"

 Lev Shestov and Democratization of Thought The philosophy of the Russian philosopher Lev Shestov has been instrumental in the creation of theoretical frameworks for the modern world. An insightful analysis of the existence of the human species as well as the individual is intensely explored in the works of Shestov, using the theoretical frameworks and models that were offered by both the existentialist theorists of the nineteenth century as well as the socialist theories that had gained a great amount of momentum in the nineteenth century. Shestov displays a great amount of variety in his work and also borrows from the philosophy of the east in order to challenge the views that are established and belong to great thinkers. Through such a move, Shestov achieves a revolutionary approach that serves to challenge the existing order of things as they are in the society and in the universe. The complexities of such viewpoints are expressed in several works that he wrote. This paper shall seek to analyse an excerpt from the essay, “The Force of Argument”, which seeks to establish a dialogue between himself and the German philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer, whose views Shestov was not in agreement with at all (Shestov 97). Using several points of view from different schools of thought, Shestov is able to provide a refutation of the argument that Schopenhauer presents and is also able to give his own argument a place in a continuity of history by anticipating its own modification by a later theorist, in the same way that he was modifying the theories of Arthur Schopenhauer. Shestov criticizes the assumptions that Schopenhauer takes for granted while formulating his analyses of the condition of man. The distinction between the individual man and the collective is clearly laid out by Schopenhauer in his philosophy. The beginning and the end of man is taken as a given that cannot be refuted is also a basis for any future argument that Schopenhauer makes; which is to say, that it forms the bedrock of his later discourses. Shestov’s challenge is aimed at a challenge of the very basic assumptions that are taken for granted by philosophers like Schopenhauer. The excerpt from “The Force of Argument” makes it clear that the immortality of the soul can be defined in many ways. A man who is dead is considered to be dead as an individual merely because of the demise of the earthly identity of his body. Shestov does not consider this to be a legitimate ending; neither does he think that this constitutes a definite ending to a person’s existence. Casting off the body that we see in this planet and the identity that is assumed on the earth, the soul may move to another planet and assume another identity clothing it with another covering. This may lead one to think that the ending of a person is not an ending but a continuation of the existence of a soul that was always present. The immortality of the soul is taken as a reference point even in this argument that Shestov provides as a refutation of an argument that he feels gives excessive importance to reference points, given by Schopenhauer. The absence of reference points and the immortality of the soul are aspects also of Christianity. However, the soul assuming new bodies in different planets after the death of one body is a definite influence of eastern philosophy, especially Hinduism, which believes in the transmigration of souls from one body to the other following death. It is a Eurocentric view that Schopenhauer takes when he expounds his philosophy; it is this narrow view that is sought to be altered when Shestov offers his refutation of the arguments that are provided by Schopenhauer. The casting off of the body as if it were a skin that could be cast off in the way that snakes shed their skin is something that is present in the philosophies of eastern religions and civilizations. The finality and the argument of the end arise when only one life is present for each man or woman. By incorporating eastern philosophies into the matrix of the arguments that discuss the aspects of the human soul, Shestov makes it clear that one of the important points of his agenda was to democratize the influences of philosophy and include within his theories as many theories as he could possibly do so. Shestov’s argument moves away from the established rhetoric and theories of Christianity and embraces new worldviews that had long been ignored while formulating broad frameworks for human beings to follow as their universal ideals. It is an impulse that is directed by feelings of equality that impel Shestov to argue the way he does in the excerpt that has been provided. It is thus that in the work of Shestov, the number of reference points are increased and also scattered. The range and variety of the works and philosophies that Shestov takes up and incorporates into his argument is mind-boggling and also makes the reader think about the rich history of philosophy that exists in the east, history that has been erased by the colonial powers of the eighteenth and the nineteenth centuries in Europe. The struggle for power has had a great impact upon the kind of philosophy that has come out of specific ages. The subjugation of the east was also marked by a refusal to notice the philosophy of the east. It is thus that the interest that Shestov feels in the eastern philosophies is accompanied by a great revival of interests in the philosophy of the east by certain philosophers of the west who had become dissatisfied with the artificial lives that they had to lead as prisoners of the philosophy of the west and had started looking to other parts of the world for alternative worldviews that would, they thought probably enable them to lead fuller and more enjoyable lives. The concept of the tyrannical god that would give only one chance to prove one’s worth could be replaced by the more mercifully disinterested gods of the Hindu pantheon of gods. Religions like Buddhism and Jainism advocated the use of non-violence during one’s lifetime. These tenets of the eastern religions helped Shestov in formulating his opinions regarding the arguments that are used by him to refute the arguments of Schopenhauer, who largely, when he refers to religion as a social institution, refers to Christianity. In a Christian framework where there is a strict and neat distinction between the man and the flock that contains him. It is this culture that separates the individual and his society that is critiqued to a great extent by the arguments that are set forth by Shestov. Shestov’s arguments are also accompanied by tinges of socialism that seek to unite the man and the community. In such a framework, the man retains his individuality but he is unable to not be a part of his community of men. The tinge of socialism that is present in the works of Shestov is evident when he critiques the vast gulf that exists between members of different classes and the perceived distance between members of either class. He invokes the seemingly absurd dream of the peasant becoming a landlord. Shestov, in principle, seems to agree with the conditions that are laid down by the socialist ideas that were in wide circulation during that time. Whether he did so or not at a practical level is unknown to us; however his views that are expressed in the given excerpt point to his insistence on a socialist society as the desired model of a society. This s different from Schopenhauer’s relatively less political tracts that remarked on the conditions of man that he felt were universal, on the basis of the observation of the European man and his ways and methods of living. The neglect of other modes of being and also of other cultures that existed in other parts of the world is evident in the works of Schopenhauer. This is exactly the aspect of his work that Shestov sets out to criticize and does so with a fair degree of success. It is significant that there is no finality to the arguments that are provided by Shestov by the end of the excerpt. The argument that he provides is open ended and exists at a more interactive level than the works of Schopenhauer. This is greatly owing to the clause that he leaves in his work that allows the existence of other points of view. The compromise that he effects is one that comes through the acceptance of other perspectives and challenges that may prove him wrong. His willingness to accept the incorrectness of any aspect of his work and theory is owing to a recognition of an ongoing historical process of philosophical debates that allow for changes in existing ideas and theories. The ideas of Shestov bring a new dimension to one’s understanding of the theory of Schopenhauer. It does not completely discredit it but adds itself as a modification, a part of a process of change in the field of philosophy. Works Cited Shestov, Lev. “Force of Argument”. Penultimate Words: And other Essays. New York: Books for Libraries Press, 1966. Print. p 97 Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Lev Shestov and Democratization of Thought Essay”, n.d.)
Retrieved de https://studentshare.org/philosophy/1392486-essay
(Lev Shestov and Democratization of Thought Essay)
https://studentshare.org/philosophy/1392486-essay.
“Lev Shestov and Democratization of Thought Essay”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/philosophy/1392486-essay.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Lev Shestov and Democratization of Thought

International Influences to Democratization

hellip; This has been seen as one form of democratization of the previously socialist regime. Democratization is a process of achieving a democratic government.... Although the process of democratization has been slow in the world, there has been increasing trend of opening up of previous countries which were considered to be closed to the world like China.... It is a government in which the cities are involved in the process of democratization....
11 Pages (2750 words) Essay

THE FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION

One of them and most extensively realized intention was to defend France's empire, which was flourishing itself into Africa by this time.... Secondly, and less significant,… Legion fought for 130 years, bravely around the world defending the French empire.... Departure of France from Algeria in 1962 generally marked the ending of French Imperialism Even after 182 years of its survival, the French Foreign Legion remains a much misunderstood unit in the global military scenario....
11 Pages (2750 words) Research Paper

The Democratization of China

However, the situation is fast changing where China is now moving closer to modernization that states that economic development is the basis for democratization.... In effect, there is an unequal distribution of resources, and this forcing the Chinese to pile pressure on the government for economic democratization (Liu and Dingding 41)....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

Are certain democratic institutions more or less democratic than others

Democracy is a government by the people.... ?It is a form of government where the citizens have the supreme power and exercise it directly or by their elected officials under a free electoral system.... Countries vary in the magnitude of democratic practice.... Some institutions are more… A practical view of the Russian government and Norway government depicts the variance of the extent of the democratic practice....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

The Influences of Media on the Law

This paper "The Influences of Media on the Law" focuses on the fact that media is related to law in many aspects.... Apart from the intervention in the life of individuals or the activities of organizations, media can be used for the formulation of the judicial view.... nbsp;… Usually, the activities of media are considered as justified because of the possible importance of the issues presented....
40 Pages (10000 words) Research Paper

Gender Equality and Womens Empowerment in Saudi Arabian Civil Society

The paper describes the interplay between biological gender differences, and the abstract concept of gender, which is now a socially determined construct imposed on all human beings.... Terminology such as 'the sexual revolution' was used to describe the birth of women's subordination to men.... hellip; Arab social norms and attitudes which have cemented women's role in the private sphere, while creating barriers to their participation in public which remains a significant obstacle to women's empowerment....
23 Pages (5750 words) Research Paper

Impact of Democracy In Nigeria: Democratization

The "Impact of Democracy In Nigeria: democratization" paper details the country's democratic transition from military dictatorship, and as well examines the effectiveness and challenges of participatory governance and deliberative governance in Nigeria as it attempts to deliver “democracy.... He started on negotiations and discussions with the diverse masses and social assemblies throughout the nation and confessed the democratization mistakes and failures....
15 Pages (3750 words) Term Paper

Democratization Patterns in Taiwan and South Korea

The paper "democratization Patterns in Taiwan and South Korea" will discuss the similarities and differences of the democratization patterns in Taiwan and South Korea.... The last part will look at the lessons which we can learn from the democratization patterns of both countries.... Economic growth with good future prospects and equality of opportunity is quite vital for democratization.... The Japanese colonial experience contributed to the democratization process in both countries in three ways; the strong Japanese bureaucratic rule set up patterns of administration that the postwar governments were capable of utilizing, therefore improving their effectiveness; national consciousness among all sectors in both countries was increased; and the economical, social and educational sectors advanced in both countries....
8 Pages (2000 words) Case Study
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us