Analysis of Spiritualism in the philosophical work of Nikolai Strakhov

Identificator

EDN: KCGUOM ; УДК: 1(091)

Authors

Snetova Nina Vasilyevna, PhD in Philosophy, associate professor of the Department of History and Philosophy, Perm State Medical University n. a. E. A. Wagner. Russia, Perm, ORCID: 0000-0001-5935-7168. E-mail: snetova@mail.ru

Journal

HERALD OF VYATKA STATE UNIVERSITY №2 (156), 2025

Section

PHILOSOPHICAL SCIENCES. PANEL DISCOURSE "RUSSIAN PHILOSOPHY: AN EXPERIENCE WITH POLYPHONY"

Pages

28-33

Abstract

The article discusses the problems of the philosophy of science and the criticism of the philosophical and methodological foundations of spiritualism in the works of the Russian thinker N. N. Strakhov in the second half of the 19th century. Fascinations with mysticism and spiritualism are characteristic of our time, so the topic of the article is very relevant. Despite the fact that there have been quite a few articles and three monographs published on the work of this Russian philosopher in recent years, various assessments of his philosophical views still exist. Since the 90s, there has been a predominance of an assessment of the thinker as a religious philosopher. However, his philosophical views are inconsistent, and theirs it is impossible to determine unambiguously. In particular, the philosophy of science occupies an important place in Strakhov's work. These ideas were developed from a scientific, philosophical, and not religious standpoint. The critic of spiritualism analyzes the justification of spiritualism in the articles of famous scientists, A. M. Butlerov and N. P. Wagner. Their authority in science contributed to the strengthening of spiritualism in Russia. The author highlights that Strakhov accurately identified the foundations of spiritualism, which were put forward by the naturalists, and convincingly showed their inconsistency from a scientific point of view. Both famous scientists sought to prove that mediumistic phenomena are a scientific fact. In their opinion, this indicated that the spiritual force can act independently of material bodies and, therefore, there is a special spiritual world. However, Strakhov convincingly demonstrated that these phenomena contradict the laws of science. The article emphasizes that the Russian philosopher raised criticism of spiritualism to a scientific level and precisely defined it as a pseudoscientific teaching.

Keywords

history of Russian philosophy philosophy of science methodology N. N. Strakhov criticism of spiritualism

Recieved

06.11.2025

Published

14.04.2026

References

1. Butlerov A. M. Empirizm i dogmatizm v oblasti mediumizma [Empiricism and dogmatism in the field of mediumship] // Statʹi po mediumizmu – Articles on mediumship. SPb., Type. V. Demakova, 1889, 473 p.
2. N. N. Strakhov: pro et contra, antologiya [N. N. Strakhov: pro et contra : anthology] / compiled, introduction, commentary by S. M. Klimova. SPb: RHGA, 2021. 852 p.
3. Pruzhinin B. I., Gacheva A. G., Gryakalov A. A., et al. Aktualʹnye problemy issledovaniya filosofii N. N. Strakhova (materialy "kruglogo stola") [Actual problems of the study of N. N. Strakhov’s philosophy (materials of the round table)] // Voprosy filosofii – Questions of Philosophy. 2024. No. 8. Pp. 92–122.
4. Strakhov N. N. O vechnykh istinakh. Moj spor o spiritizme [On Eternal Truths. My Debate on Spiritualism]. SPb., Panteleev Brothers Printing House. 1887. 130 p.
5. Strakhov N. N. Veshchestvo po ucheniyu materialistov [Substance according to the teachings of materialists] // Vremya – Time. 1863. No. 3. Pp. 191–234.
6. Strakhov N. N. O prostykh telakh. Statʹya pervaya [On Simple Bodies. Article One] // Otechestvennye za-piski. 1865. Avgust. Kn. 2. S. 605–625; O prostykh telakh. Statʹya vtoraya i poslednyaya – Otechestvennye zapiski. 1865. August. Book 2. pp. 605–625; On Simple Bodies. Article Two and Last // Otechestvennye zapiski – Otechestvennye zapiski. 1865. December. Book. 2. Pp. 666–678.

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