«Antropologia theologica»: rationality as a turning point of the Russian orthodox thought

Belgorod National Research University, 308015, Belgorod, Russia

^* Corresponding author: eigor1@yandex.ru

Abstract

The article presents the results of a study of one of the least known areas of the Russian anthropological tradition, which arose and developed in the interdisciplinary philosophical and theological space of Orthodox thought of the XIX-XX centuries. The authors of the article characterize the most important differences in this interdisciplinary field of anthropological research, referring to several key episodes (cases) of its history. First of all its disciplinary genesis is analyzed – in the writings of the thinkers of the circle of Metropolitan Philaret (Drozdov), where the term Antropologia Theologica (or theological «chelovekoslovie», theological anthropology) arises; the same thinkers systematize and clarify the fundamental concepts of Christian anthropology, both in its Eastern Byzantine version, and those that arised in the historically close Western, Lutheran. Then in the article are proposed the results of the analysis of the works of Bishop Feofan (Govorov), where the Orthodox dominant is developed for a rational and holistic understanding of a person, his nature and composition, which can not be reduced to rational (Aristotelian) human anatomy but containing a certain social minimum of self-movement reasonable social and personal action. Finally in the article are discussed the features of the scientific experimental and philosophical-theological approaches of Archbishop Luke (Voyno-Yasenetsky), medical scientist, philosopher and theologian, continuing the history of a rational and historically diverse Antropologia Theologica.