The Philosophy of K. Jaspers and the Problem of the "Borderline Situation" in M. Gorky's Last Novel

Identificator

EDN: DSCHHA ; УДК: 141.32:821.161.1

Authors

Dianov Sergey Aleksandrovich, Doctor of Historical Sciences, professor of the Department of Public Administration and History, Perm National Research Polytechnic University. Russia, Perm. ORCID: 0000‑0001‑8297‑8077. E‑mail: sadianov@gmail.com ; Lesevitsky Aleksey Vladimirovich, lecturer of the Department of General Education and Humanities‑Social Disciplines, Perm Branch of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation. Russia, Perm. ORCID: 0000‑0002‑9934‑0341. E‑mail: lesev100@mail.ru

Journal

HERALD OF HUMANITARIAN EDUCATION №1 (41), 2026

Section

PHILOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Pages

138-147

Abstract

The relevance of the study is determined by the sustained interest of contemporary humanities in the dialogue between philosophy and literature, as well as by the insufficient exploration of the existential dimension of M. Gorky's late work, which is often examined solely within a socio‑historical context. The purpose of the article is to examine the phenomenon of the "borderline situation" (according to K. Jaspers) in M. Gorky's novel The Life of Klim Samgin and to identify the structural correspondence between the philosophical concept and its artistic embodiment. Subject and results of the study. Using the material of the novel, a comparative analysis was conducted between M. Gorky's artistic method and K. Jaspers's philosophy. The fates of key characters were examined as embodiments of different types of borderline situations: Serafima Nekhaeva (suffering and confrontation with death), Klim Samgin (evasion of choice and "existential paralysis"), and the merchant Lyutov (suicide as a destructive resolution of a situation of choice). The authors established that M. Gorky intuitively develops a conceptual framework similar to that of Jaspers, meticulously exploring the phenomenology of fear, guilt, responsibility, and freedom under conditions of historical and existential crisis. Conclusions. The researchers conclude that M. Gorky can be recognized as a major representative of European existentialism in the first third of the 20th century. His novel constitutes a grand artistic exploration of key existential categories, where the social epic rises to the level of a philosophical parable about the human condition. Application of results. The results of the study can be utilized in further comparative research on the philosophy of existentialism and Russian literature, as well as in the practice of university teaching in the history of philosophy, literary studies, and cultural studies.

Keywords

borderline situation problem of choice existentialism in philosophy and literature fear of death social absenteeism philosophy of suicide polyphonic character

Recieved

23.01.2026

Published

03.06.2026

References

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