THE ROLE OF RUSSIAN PHILOSOPHY IN THE FORMATION OF RUSSIAN STATEHOOD

Abstract

The article examines the role of Russian philosophical thought of the 19th and early 20th centuries in conceptualizing and shaping modern Russian statehood. It demonstrates how Russian philosophy advanced the idea of a civilizational approach, forging a unique path between the concepts of freedom, social responsibility, and divine predestination, thereby influencing the formation and development of the Russian state. The authors' central argument advocates for moving beyond the traditional "Westernism – Slavophilism" dichotomy, which is seen as methodologically restrictive. As an alternative analytical framework, they propose evaluating thinkers based on their attitude towards the Uvarov triad of "Orthodoxy, Autocracy, Nationality." Through a comparative analysis of the texts of key philosophers (including P.Y. Chaadayev, A.I. Herzen, A.S. Khomyakov, V.S. Solovyov, N.A. Berdyaev, and S.L. Frank), the study reveals a complex spectrum of their positions, demonstrating the inadequacy of rigid binary classification. The research results, systematized in an authorial table, indicate that the interpretation of the spiritual-religious component as the core of state identity serves as the key differentiating factor. In conclusion, the article substantiates the contemporary relevance of this philosophical legacy for modern state governance tasks, including the formulation of national strategy, public service ethics, and models for managing cultural diversity. This work contributes to the development of methodology for studying Russian socio-political thought.