Abstract
In this chapter, Solov’ëv likens war to an illness. War, in general, like an illness is undesirable and as such must be avoided when possible. However, from the standpoint of world history, state-sponsored military conquests have ushered in eras of peace, and without the state there can be no cultural progress. Wars between gentes and clans led to the creation of the state, which then sought to eliminate any remaining internal strife. Solov’ëv urges us also not to forget that European exploration and colonization, accomplished not by preaching but by war, spread civilization throughout the world albeit at a cost. Although Christianity recognizes war as an evil, it also recognizes its historical necessity. The true way to eliminate war is to eliminate the basis of war, the hatreds that aggravate tensions, and the way to do this is for all nations to become Christian, truly Christian not just in overt religious practices, but by adhering in thought and deed to the moral principles of Christianity.
E] This chapter originally appeared with the subtitle “From moral philosophy.” In B, this, the 15th chapter, spans pp. 513–548.
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Notes
- 1.
C] Generally speaking, it … that health] Let us suppose someone were to ask how you regard illness. Is it necessary or not? It is unlikely you would respond with a monosyllabic affirmation or negation. In any case, such an answer would be hasty. However, upon reflection you would say something such as undoubtedly health AB.
- 2.
C] , at least, determine their factual presence and then,] Absent in A.
- 3.
C] itself by speeding up and supplementing] itself. It must speed up and supplement A.
- 4.
C] another] a A.
- 5.
C] , particularly those prevalent in recent times] Absent in AB.
- 6.
E] Owing to striking differences with a consulted English translation of the Qur’an, the passage provided is a translation of Solov’ëv’s Russian.
- 7.
C] Defining war negatively … war—] Defenders of war justify it A] Those who defend war justify it B.
- 8.
C] This point of … be avoided] This point of view, generally speaking, cannot be avoided AB.
- 9.
C] but must] but sometimes must AB.
- 10.
C] and unnatural] Absent in AB.
- 11.
E] The reference is to Hobbes’s description of what life would be like in an anarchist situation or what Hobbes calls a “state of nature.”
- 12.
C] speaks not of material … savage spite, revenge] is devoted not to material need, but to savage spite AB.
- 13.
C] would have threatened humanity with quick ruin] threatened to ruin humanity quickly AB.
- 14.
F] Cf. above, Chap. 10. C] Note absent in AB.
- 15.
C] (in the broad sense)] Absent in A.
- 16.
C] solitary individuals] isolated units AB.
- 17.
C] units,] individuals, AB.
- 18.
C] fact in] fact (currently) in AB.
- 19.
E] A reference to a once widely held belief, stemming from the book of Daniel, that there had been in history four “universal monarchies.” Cf. Daniel 8: 22– “Now that one being broken, in whose place four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.” A traditional view is that the four “kingdoms” correspond to the Assyrian, the Persian, Macedonian (Alexander the Great), and Roman.
- 20.
C] nineteenth] present AB.
- 21.
E] See Virgil 1982: 166 (book VI, 851).
- 22.
E] Solov’ëv previously quoted in Chap. 14 these same lines from Virgil. However, his Russian translation there differs slightly from that presented here, leading to the reasonable conjecture that he quoted Virgil from memory.
- 23.
E] Virgil 1982: 10–11 (book I, 278–294).
- 24.
C] establish the noble] establish in it the noble AB.
- 25.
E] Virgil 1982: 90.
- 26.
C] incessant] continuous AB.
- 27.
E] Ormuzd] the chief deity of Zoroastrianism, considered the source of light and the embodiment of goodness.
- 28.
C] the two sides] the two elements AB.
- 29.
E] Janus] The Roman god of gates and doors, beginnings and endings, Janus is represented with a double-faced head, each looking in opposite directions.
- 30.
C] the majority of] Absent in AB.
- 31.
C] military] Absent in AB.
- 32.
E] Romans 10: 18.
- 33.
E] Cf. Daniel 7.
- 34.
F] It is certainly impossible to ascribe literal accuracy to the number of Greek forces given in the Iliad, but it is quite probable if we take it as an approximate figure (110,000 warriors). In general, as to the reliability of the Iliad, let us note that the most recent scholarly excavations have restored to this poetic monument its importance as a historical resource, of course mythologically portrayed.
- 35.
C] whose millions of … with tiny Greece,] which turned out millions of soldiers for war, AB.
- 36.
C] civilization] culture AB.
- 37.
E] a reference to a tree that appeared in one of Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams. See Daniel 4: 1–18.
- 38.
E] Matthew 13: 32.
- 39.
C] vocation] significance B.
- 40.
E] Romans 13: 4.
- 41.
E] tota christianitas, toute la chrétienté] Latin and French: whole of Christendom.
- 42.
C] comparatively] Absent in A.
- 43.
F] See above, Chap. 14. C] Note absent in AB.
- 44.
C] bloodletting] killings AB.
- 45.
C] autocratic] unconditionally independent AB.
- 46.
C] separate unconditionally independent] two unconditionally separate B.
- 47.
C] always in principle and sometimes in fact] at least in principle AB.
- 48.
C] supreme] absolute A.
- 49.
C] nationalities] national elements AB.
- 50.
F] See above the chapter “The National Question from the Moral Point of View.” C] Entire note absent in A.
- 51.
C] selfishness] egoism AB.
- 52.
C] many of] Absent in AB.
- 53.
C] spiritual] Absent in AB.
- 54.
C] a struggle with] opposition to AB.
- 55.
C] today] Absent in A.
- 56.
C] an unconditionally independent social organism] unconditionally independent organism A.
- 57.
C] hope] chance A.
- 58.
C] civilization] culture AB.
- 59.
C] irretrievable past.] irretrievable past, similar to the Cyclopean buildings or the Egyptian pyramids. AB.
- 60.
E] “gathering of lands”] A traditional notion in Russian historiography invoked to rationalize the country’s expansion.
- 61.
C] It is well known how] In particular, A.
- 62.
E] common sensorium] Cf. “Certainly, however, all sanguineous animals have the supreme organ of the sense faculties in the heart, for it is here that we must look for the common sensorium belonging to all the sense-organs.” Aristotle 1995: 747.
- 63.
C] nineteenth century,] present century, AB.
- 64.
C] a note here in B: The Turkish campaign in 1877 only threatened to become a European war, but the cloud happily dispersed.
- 65.
C] The Russo-Turkish War … a European war.] Absent in AB.
- 66.
C] most important of these wars,] the last and most important of them, AB.
- 67.
C] states point] states, over which the friends of peace inconsolably cry, point A.
- 68.
F] The last three semi-European wars do not contradict this: The Serbo-Bulgarian War of 1885, the Greco-Turkish War of 1897 and the Spanish-American War of 1898 concluded before they seriously began. C] Entire note absent in AB.
- 69.
C] of wars?] of all wars? AB.
- 70.
C] whose] in particular it’s A.
- 71.
C] calculated to be at least 200 million souls,] Absent in A.
- 72.
C] the entire yellow race’s] the Chinese A.
- 73.
C] Herodotus looked] Herodotus, the father of historians, looked AB.
- 74.
E] Skamander] The river valley in present-day Turkey that was the site of the city of Troy.
- 75.
E] Pergamon] An ancient city to which, according to The Iliad, Zeus traveled from Mt. Olympus in order to watch the Trojan Wars.
- 76.
C] ominous] 400-million A.
- 77.
E] Aeneas of Troy] The hero of Virgil’s The Aeneid, Aeneas was a cousin of King Priam of Troy. Aeneas was one of the greatest heroes of the Trojan War. He fought on in Troy until ordered to leave by the gods. Eventually, he arrived in Italy and became a founder of Italian culture.
- 78.
E] From a 1890 poem “Ex Oriente Lux” by Solov’ëv himself.
- 79.
C] old material and cultural] external AB.
- 80.
C] political] external AB.
- 81.
C] an economic one] that of material culture AB.
- 82.
C] world. There] world. A universal monarchy will actually emerge from this victory. There AB.
- 83.
C] (whether monarchical or other) Absent in AB.
- 84.
E] advocates of papal authority not just in ecclesiastic but also political matters.
- 85.
C] international union] union of states AB.
- 86.
C] It also reveals … of humanity.] Absent in A.
- 87.
C] political] Absent in A.
- 88.
C] gentes] classes A.
- 89.
C] was permeated] was, so to speak, permeated AB.
- 90.
C] virtually inevitable] serious AB.
- 91.
C] come. The] come. We must desire and can hope that there will be no European war. However, the AB.
- 92.
C] For this argument … first agree] This argument would be convincing if only we could be convinced AB.
- 93.
C] particularly] Absent in A.
- 94.
C] out of sight. … combat does] out of sight. There cannot even be a specific murder. Such a thing is possible only in the rare cases of hand-to-hand combat. Only in such cases does A.
- 95.
C] unknown] indefinite AB.
- 96.
E] According to the government issued “Statutes Regarding Military Duties” from 1 January 1874, “Defense of the throne and fatherland is the sacred duty of every Russian citizen. Every male without social distinction is subject to military service.” Korkunov 1904: 568.
- 97.
C] abuse its armed forces and] Absent in B.
- 98.
C] Just as it … self-defense.] There is the possibility of unjust and aggressive wars instead of one in defense of the fatherland. A.
- 99.
C] Theories that] Theories (e.g., those of the Quakers) that AB.
- 100.
C] is no more than a gang of robbers who hypnotize] only hypnotizes A.
- 101.
E] The famine of 1891–1892 highlighted the corruption and inefficiency of the government. In 1892, Leo Tolstoy published articles critical of the government’s efforts. Shortly afterward, Tolstoy himself participated in relief efforts that proved more efficient than those of the government.
- 102.
C] Let us suppose … a famine.] four [Five B] years ago, a significant part of Russia was overtaken by a famine. AB.
- 103.
C] for staying alive,] for the fact that I stayed alive and did not starve myself to death, AB.
- 104.
C] What, one might … general public.] Absent in AB.
- 105.
C] the present Kurds] Absent in AB.
- 106.
E] An anarchist terrorist organization that operated primarily in the western and southern parts of the Russian Empire.
- 107.
C] whatever can eliminate. Just … having armed forces.] and untruths can eliminate. The conclusion that rye is harmful does not follow from the fact that ergot is poisonous. AB.
- 108.
C] merely] Absent in AB.
- 109.
C] as it presently is, but] as it presently is ( statu quo), but AB.
- 110.
C] simple] passive AB.
- 111.
C] normal social] absolute AB.
- 112.
C] political] Absent in AB.
- 113.
C] preparatory] Absent in AB.
- 114.
C] actually] seriously AB.
- 115.
C] to fulfill its … not before.] for it to approach gradually the ideal. AB.
- 116.
C] extreme] Absent in AB.
- 117.
C] parts of a shattered] various parts of B.
- 118.
C] really wants to bring … morally good peace.] seriously wants to bring humanity closer to eternal peace. The historical progress already accomplished has made war between European nations almost impossible. The removal of this “almost” is the concern of the good will of European nations and their rulers. They need only turn attention to the logical consequence of the existing situation, namely to the obvious uselessness of stockpiling colossal armaments (along with compulsory military service), which only arouses a futile apprehension of an incredible and quite unnecessary European war. No one is seriously suggesting complete disarmament, but a ten-fold reduction in the size of military forces is enough for a genuine defense against savages and barbarians as against what is required by an empty fear of a European war. AB.
- 119.
C] future] Absent in AB.
- 120.
C] civilization] culture AB.
- 121.
E] A reference to the first World Parliament of Religion held in Chicago from 11–27 September 1893.
- 122.
E] Although these words are marked as a quotation in the original, Solov’ëv is not directly quoting any of the presenters at the Chicago event but only seeking to convey the sense of the “Asian” critique of European Christianity.
- 123.
C] for victory.] for victory. Be that as it may, if the final military encounter of the West with the East happens to be inevitable, we must remember that a victory for Europe will be conditional on the harmonious action of all its nations coupled with the arousal of their spiritual forces, and not the size of their armed masses. In this final war, which must be to advance unification on a world scale, Russia will obviously have to play a leading role. Therefore, our true patriotic duty is to desire and see that our fatherland be not only materially but, above all, morally and spiritually strong and worthy of this great calling in completing this final task of humanity. A.
- 124.
C] for victory.] for victory. Be that as it may, if the final military encounter of the West with the East happens to be inevitable, we must remember that a victory for Europe will be conditional on the harmonious action of all its nations coupled with the arousal of their spiritual forces, and not the size of their armed masses. Above all, the rulers of the nations and the guiders of public opinion must decisively and sincerely agree that a “European” war, or more precisely a war between the nations of Christendom is unnecessary and impermissible. Let the people, on whom the actual triumph of peace depends, hear the voice not of the abstract thinker and not of the one-sided moralist, but of a person who with an impeccable moral character and extensive practical experience was certainly least inclined towards philosophical and political utopias. In his excellent recently published letter to Count Bismarck (written in 1871 and published in 1894), the late Prince Petr Georgievich Oldenburg, having mentioned the “adverse theories” “vanquished not by bayonets, but by political wisdom and enlightened measures” and having discarded, then, the absurd idea of a possible, immediate and complete disarmament, continues: “My opinion is, therefore, (1) to end war between civilized peoples and to guarantee the reciprocal territories on the part of the governments, (2) to resolve disputed issues following the example of England and America with the help of an international commission, (3) to establish the strength of the military forces of all states by an international convention.” (The temporary need for small armies to protect against, among other things, possible attacks by savage nations was explained above.) “Although many assign the elimination of war to the realm of phantasy, I, nevertheless, have the courage to think that this is the only way to save the church, the monarchy in principle, society and heal the states of the ulcer that is hindering their development. The implementation of such a supreme, truly Christian and human idea, coming immediately from two powerful monarchs would be a glorious victory over the principle of evil. It would usher in a new era of happiness. Cries of joy would spread around the world, cries which would be echoed by the heavenly angels. If the Lord is behind me, then who can be against me, and what force can oppose those who act in the name of God? This is the modest opinion of an old man sorely tried by fate and who without fear and without concern for the opinion of the world in the sight of God and eternity merely follows the voice of conscience, seeking nothing more on this Earth than a quiet grave alongside his dear ancestors.” B E] Oldenburg 1894: 137–138.
- 125.
C] The general description … of moral philosophy.] Absent in B.
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Nemeth, T. (2015). [423]Chapter 18 The Meaning of War. In: Nemeth, T. (eds) Vladimir Solov’ëv's Justification of the Moral Good. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12775-0_19
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