ABSTRACT
The present age is a time of crisis for the intelligentsia, a crisis in which it is becoming aware of its mistakes. And in this age when we are reappraising old ideologies, it is imperative that we consider our attitude toward philosophy. The Russian intelligentsia’s traditional attitude toward philosophy is more complex than it might appear at first glance, and an analysis of this attitude might very well reveal the basic spiritual traits of our intelligentsia’s world. The exclusive and despotic sway of a utilitarian moral standard; the equally exclusive and oppressive “love for the people” and “love for the proletariat”; the worshipping of “the people,” its welfare and interests; and the spiritual depression that results from political despotism have all led to a very low level of philosophic culture among us. Moral cowardice develops; love of truth and boldness of thought are extinguished.
