Nikolai Mikhailovskii and Konstantin Leont'ev. On the Political Implication of Herbert Spencer's Sociology

摘要: I present a fragment from thehistory of the Russian reception HerbertSpencer's sociology. The discussion concernstwo diametrically opposed but exceptionallyimportant figures in history Russianthought, Nikolai Mikhajlovskij (1842–1904) andKonstantin Leont'ev (1831–1891). As one thechief ideologues Populist movementMikhajlovskij turned Spencer's ideas into anegative frame reference for his own`romantic socialist utopia'. In turn, Leont'evformulated extremely conservative politicalviews on basis organicistsociology. Though at opposite ends thespectrum both standpoints succeeded inexhibiting political implications thepositivist and naturalist style thinking.