P. Chaadaev: social critique, philosopher, arguer?

Abstract

The article presents a critique of the “legend" of Chaadaev being the founder of the Russian revolutionary-liberation thought. With the basis of the analysis of the “Philosophical Letters" and the “Apology of a Mad man" the author shows the transition in the historiosophical concept Chaadaev from notional occidentalism to backing Russian monarchy. The article provides the analysis of the cultural phenomenon of “chaadaevchshina" as the manifestation of Byronism and dandyism.