Nihilism in Relation to Cultural Heritage. Appeals by Georgy Gachev to the Leaders of the Central Committee of the CPSU in Connection with Sanctions Following the Publication of Nikolai Fedorov's "Works" in the "Philosophical Heritage" Series

Abstract

The publication of the book "Writings" by Nikolai Fedorov as part of the academic series (library) "Philosophical Heritage" in 1982 was a landmark and resonant event on the scale of science, culture, society and the state of the late Soviet period. The release of Fedorov's book was accompanied by a large-scale information campaign, which included a whole series of publications, most of which implemented a single ideological program; many of them were written by philologist Svetlana Semenova, who also carried out the full volume of work on the scientific preparation of the book publication. This set of ideas and events can be designated as Fedorov's Soviet project. The initiators, executors and high-ranking patrons of this project belonged to the so-called "Russian party" and advocated the vector of development of the USSR as a great power, the successor of historical Russia, based on the revival of classical Russian culture and traditional values, the corresponding rethinking of the spiritual and historical mission of the country. Among the documents related to the history of the Fedorov project, of considerable interest are the appeals to the leaders of the Central Committee of the CPSU sent in January 1983 by Svetlana Semenova’s husband, philologist Georgy Gachev. In terms of content, these letters are among the most important sources shedding light on the circumstances and consequences of the publication of Fedorov's book in the USSR. Based on archival materials, the author introduces into scientific circulation the texts of Gachev's appeals to Yuri Andropov, General Secretary of the Central Committee, and Sergei Trapeznikov, head of the Science Department of the Central Committee.