The Russian Cosmists: The Esoteric Futurism of Nikolai Fedorov and His Followers

by George M. Young

Overview

In the nineteenth and early twentieth century, a controversial school of Russian religious and scientific thinkers emerged, united in the conviction that humanity was entering a new stage of evolution and must assume a new, active, managerial role in the cosmos. The ideas of the Cosmists have in recent decades been rediscovered and embraced by many Russian intellectuals. In the first account in English of this fascinating tradition, George M. Young offers a dynamic and wide-ranging examination of the lives and ideas of the Russian Cosmists.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199974399
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	07/30/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	296
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

George M. Young is a Fellow at The Center for Global Humanities at the University of New England.

Table of Contents

Preface
Chapter 1: The Spiritual Geography of Russian Cosmism
Chapter 2: Forerunners of Russian Cosmism
Chapter 3: The Russian Philosophical Context
Chapter 4: The Religious and Spiritual Context
Chapter 5: The Russian Esoteric Context
Chapter 6: Nikolai Fedorovich Fedorov (1829-1903), the Philosopher of the Common Task
Chapter 7: The ''Common Task''
Chapter 8: The Religious Cosmists
Chapter 9: The Scientific Cosmists
Chapter 10: Promethean Theurgy
Chapter 11: Fedorov's Twentieth-Century Followers
Chapter 12: Cosmism Today
Notes
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

"a fascinating, mind expanding, highly informative magical mystery tour of a distinctive school of New Age thinking." — ew York Journal of Books

"The Cosmists were a peculiarly Russian group: they were all very Russian, and they were also, frankly, peculiar. In The Russian Cosmists, George M. Young charts in detail the influences that shaped an unusual coterie of thinkers, and explores how the mystical and scientific offspring of this movement to conquer death and traverse the cosmos have reverberated from the late nineteenth century to the dawn of the twenty-first."—Michael D. Gordin, Professor of History, Princeton University

"George Young has given us a gift in this well-written and utterly engaging view of Russian Cosmist theories and their connections to the history of Western Esoteric thought. The book opens a doorway into another way of thinking that both challenges and expands contemporary perspectives on esotericism, magic, cosmology and 'active' evolutionary theory. The remarkable fact is that little of this material is recognized within the general history of esotericism and the Russian Cosmist perspective adds tremendous nuance and alterity to current paradigms. Not only is this a sweeping historical survey, it also offers a rich selection of primary sources, citations, and persons that demonstrate the unique conceptual scientific and mystical frame for much Cosmist esoteric speculation. In terms of Russian esotericism, it is a unique and rare publication and deserves careful study and assimilation. Highly recommended!"—Lee Irwin, Professor of Religious Studies, College of Charleston

From the Publisher