Antinomies in Development of Philosophy of the Soviet Period. Interview with Nelly V. Motroshilova

Abstract

This interview with a prominent philosopher Nelly Vasilievna Motroshilova continues the section “Our Interviews” of the Yearbook, that was opened by the interview with A.A. Stoliarov. Nelly Vasilievna Motroshilova – DSc in Philosophy, Professor, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation prize winner, was awarded the Bundesverdienstkreuz am Band (Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany), She is a great scholar of Classical German philosophy and phenomenology, expert on philosophical works and ideas of G.W.F. Hegel, I. Kant, E. Husserl, M. Heidegger, H. Arendt, V. Solov'ev, author of more than 15 monographs. A special place in the N. Motroshilova's area of interests takes the study of interaction between Western and Russian philosophical thought. Among the results of such a research was the book “Russian Philosophy in the 50–80s years of 20th Century and Western Thought” published in 2012. This monograph represents a thorough analysis of contradictory events that took place in philosophy of the Soviet period. This interview is filled with the same spirit of antinomy. Nelly Motroshilova shares memories and thoughts on her postgraduate years; on the Institute of Philosophy; on her foreign philosophical conferences and the related occasions illustrating the situation in the academic philosophical environment of the Soviet Union period; on her colleagues committed to the spirit of philosophy in spite of any obstacles; on the antinomy between the dominant ideology and successful development of philosophical studies in our country. Readers will be able to immerse themselves into the atmosphere of philosophy that took place more than 50 years ago, and experience sorrows and joys that faced philosophers of that time. The interview was conducted by Natalia Tatarenko.