“Cosmology of Spirit” by Evald Ilyenkov as an evidence of the liberation of reason

Abstract

The article attempts to interpret the work “Cosmology of Spirit” by Evald Ilyenkov (1924–1979). The analysis of this early text allows one to assert that its central thesis (“the matter cannot exist without thought”) proves the liberation from dogmatic, naturalism-oriented statements of official dialectical materialism. The liberation results from the consideration of the cosmic role of reason. Liberation assumes poetic form, what is peculiar of this text. Thematically and problematically, it is a cosmological essay, but the thought here is built poetically, what is characteristic of the threshold forms of breaking the tradition and ordinariness. In this sense, “Cosmology of the Spirit” is perceived as finding a way to the main problems of creativity, what became thinking to Evald Ilyenkov. The authors have drawn a conclusion that the poetic character of Evald Ilyenkov’s cosmological reflections proves the work on surmounting both the official dogma and the down-to-earth ordinariness of everyday life. Cosmological problems take the thinker to the space of understanding the mission and sense of thinking rather than understanding the narrow technology of utilitarian issues that the instrumental mind is busy with. It was noted that beginning from the middle of his essay, Evald Ilyenkov prefers the term “thinking spirit”, which removes the vulgar naturalistic understanding of the matter. It is thinking that becomes an important and effective cosmological actor. This gives grounds to speak of the noological nature of Evald Ilyenkov’s reflections, within which the main topic of his further creative activity is crystallised.