[Specific Features of Florenski’s Personalism (The Concept of the Symbol as a Unique Relationship of Language and Personal Being in Slavic Thought)]

Abstract: Florenski’s philosophy examines the notion of truth and, at the same time, the thought of a personal being and transcendence in the context of original themes of Slavic thought. The Christian concept of the person significantly enriches the noetic understanding of truth by the means of the interpersonal relationship characteristic for the context of Slavic cultures. Florenski understands truth as an existential relationship with a deeper meaning, actualized in a dialogue with a personal God. The main tendencies of the Russian personalist philosophy are the presence of verticality in relation to the horizontal relationship (relationship of one person to another) and the effort to link transcendence with factuality on the basis of which Florenski establishes his concept of a personal being. Only very intense love can overcome the contradictions in human life. There is no unity, no freedom and no truth outside love. Genuine understanding of Truth can take place only in love and it is further conceivable in love only. Basic characteristics of human being (freedom, love) cannot be categorised by means of rational thinking. Human being cannot be defined in terms of reasoning. Man can only be understood by means of intuition and by means of revelation through the symbol.

Authors: Rusnák, Peter

DOI: 10.17846/CL.2018.11.2.168-178

Publication order reference: doc. PhDr. Peter Rusnák, PhD.; University of Trnava, Faculty of Arts and Philosophy, Institute of Ethics and Moral Philosophy, Hornopotočná 23, 91843 Trnava, Slovakia; email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Source: Konštatínove listy, 2018, vol.: 11, issue: 2, pages: 168-178 (PDF file)

Keywords: RUSSIAN PHILOSOPHY, SYMBOLIC THINKING, PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE, PERSONAL BEING, TRUTH, TRINITARIAN GOD, SLAVIC CULTURE

Language: SLOVAK