The Biographical Essay to the 140th Anniversary of the Russian Philosopher and Publicist Ivan Aleksandrovich Il'in (1883–1954)

Abstract

The biographical essay is dedicated to the 140th anniversary of the Russian philosopher, thinker, writer, lawyer and publicist Ivan Aleksandrovich Il'in (1883–1954). The philosophical works of Ilyin himself and biographical research about him are used as materials. The methodological complex of the research includes the content analysis method, the biographical method and the synthesis method.
Ivan Aleksandrovich Il'in, being a nobleman with Russian-German roots by birth, could not accept the socialist revolution of 1917 and had to emigrate.
Il'in was distinguished by exceptional creative activity, having published more than a thousand articles and over fifty monographs. His very categorical theses did not quite correctly give him the reputation of a “Russian fascist”. Russian nationalism or fascism is not traced in Il'in's “Russian idea” (as applied to the ethnic group), but the patriotic idea of a stable Russian statehood based on a common mentality, culture, economic ties, etc. Il'in was an irreconcilable and unyielding thinker, for whom there were no “friends” and “strangers”; for him, expressing thoughts was more important than negative consequences for himself.
As for the philosopher's patriotism towards Russia, we are personally convinced of this; however, hatred of socialist ideology, the Soviet regime and unwillingness to join the socialist-built state system forced Il'in to emigrate.