Asmus Valentin Ferdinandovich: biography, books, scientific papers

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

“Ancient Philosophy” by Valentin Ferdinandovich Asmus is perhaps one of the most famous three-volume books of the Soviet period devoted to the problems of ancient culture. The author of this work is, without a doubt, an outstanding person: a philosopher, culturologist, sociologist, philologist, art critic, theologian, teacher and mentor.

During his long life and career, V. F. Asmus not only incredibly enriched Russian and world philosophy, but also again gave the world such an excellent science as logic, becoming one of the first serious teachers of this discipline in the Soviet Union. Until now, domestic logic exists solely thanks to the inestimably huge legacy of this wonderful person.

Incredible man

Valentin Ferdinandovich Asmus is the most famous Russian philosopher and theologian. From his pen came a great many different scientific treatises and religious works. Being the founder of Russian logic, he not only made a huge contribution to the development of this science, but also brought upseveral generations of logicians who later became legendary figures. Valentin Asmus devoted many years of his life to the study of the philosophical theories of Emmanuel Kant, becoming the largest Russian-speaking specialist in this field. His works on the theories and ideology of Kant are recognized as classics in many countries of the world, including in the homeland of Kant himself.

In addition to scientific achievements, Valentin Ferdinandovich was remembered by his contemporaries and descendants as a talented writer. Being a member of the Union of Writers of the USSR since 1935, he managed to write a lot of author's works, as well as take part in joint work with other writers, simultaneously performing the work of an editor, proofreader and consultant in the field of theology.

In the early forties, the merits of the logician were awarded the Stalin Prize, which the scientist received in 1943, as well as the title of "Honored Scientist of the RSFSR", which Asmus was awarded in 1965.

Biography

Valentin Ferdinandovich Asmus was born on December 30, 1894 in Kyiv, Russian Empire, into a noble family. The Asmus clan was not quite close to the Imperial Court, but did not live in poverty, so young Valentine received an excellent pre-school and primary school education. The boy's tutors noted his amazing ability to learn and incredible craving for knowledge. Having received a home education, Valentin goes to study at the famous Kyiv gymnasium, which he graduates two years earlier than his peers.

After graduating from an educational institution with a gold medal, Asmus acceptsthe decision to continue studying at Kiev University, choosing to study philosophical sciences and theology, additionally enrolling in the section for the study of philology and cultural studies.

Training

Having entered the university, Valentin immediately joins the hard work of student scientific sections and circles. In the next five years of study, the young man acquires a reputation as a budding philologist and philosopher. Asmus' brilliant performances at scientific conferences, symposiums and gatherings of philosophy lovers could not go unnoticed in scientific circles. In 1916, Valentin decides to send his work "On the Tasks of Music Criticism" to a competition. The young scientist's essay earned him a prize, the title of "young talent", and also made him a scholarship holder receiving an increased academic salary.

Most of all at that time, Valentin Ferdinandovich Asmus was occupied with the problem of Leo Tolstoy's attitude to the theological statements of Benedict Spinoza. Most of the youthful scientific essays of the future academician are devoted to this very issue.

Valentin's reputation was spoiled by his scandalous article en titled "On the Great Captivity of Russian Culture". The work was sharply criticized by the Bolsheviks, but Asmus was not arrested or expelled from the country, but even received Soviet citizenship and the right to continue working in any educational institution on the territory of the Soviet Union.

Early years

At the end of the forties, Valentin Ferdinandovich Asmus began to get seriously interested in logic. In the 1920s, this science was almost destroyed by the Soviet authorities, and now the difficult task of restoring and putting it in order has fallen on the shoulders of an elderly scientist. It so happened that it was in the hands of Asmus that all knowledge in this discipline was concentrated. Moreover, the professor systematized the available information and significantly supplemented it, using information from personal correspondence with scientists who managed to leave the country and are now in exile.

In a difficult time for the country, Asmus has to take on the responsibility of educating the first Soviet logicians.

Scientific career

In the mid-fifties of the last century, "The History of Ancient Philosophy" by V. F. Asmus produced the effect of an exploding bomb in the scientific community, giving rise to many topical disputes about the nature of logic as such, which led to fierce debates, in which the scientist himself.

He managed not only to systematize and streamline the process of scientific debates, but also to involve in them many graduate students and masters, who in the future became the luminaries of Russian philosophy. Smirnov, Shchedrovitsky, Ivanov - all these names became known to a wide circle of people precisely thanks to the very debates organized by Valentin Ferdinandovich.

From his lecture programs of that time, Valentin Asmus creates a unique course "The Age of the Logic of Materialism", which was read to a limited number of gifted students, then corrected, supplemented and published by a separate scientificlabor.

Teaching career

The biography of VF Asmus mentions that the professor devoted many years to teaching, teaching students of higher educational institutions in Russia and Ukraine. In Soviet times, he taught for many years at the ethnological faculty of Moscow State University, sometimes giving lectures at IKP, AKB and MIFLI.

In 1939, the Department of Philosophy was opened at Moscow State University, where Valentin Asmus will work until his death.

Worldview

The philosophy of VF Asmus was incredibly close to the main theoretical views of Kant. Close professors claim that Valentin Ferdinandovich even bought a telescope in order, like Kant, to observe the heavenly bodies. In the main questions of philosophy and logic, Asmus had no differences with the great philosopher, only in some positions he categorically disagreed with him. Almost all works about Immanuel Kant published in the Soviet era were somehow influenced by Asmus or were created with his direct participation.

Proceedings

Books by VF Asmus are very popular among thinking people. Not only domestic, but also foreign scientists have repeatedly admired the genius of the Russian philosopher. In total, during his scientific career, he published more than two hundred and fifty articles, some of them were written in collaboration with his famous contemporaries. The scientist's works have been actively translated and continue to be adapted into other languages such as Finnish,Norwegian, German, Polish, Ukrainian, Croatian, English, etc.

“Ancient Philosophy” by VF Asmus is perhaps the most famous work of the scientist, after the publication of which the whole world started talking about Russian logic. However, in addition to this publication, which was quite sensational in its time, the scientist published many other famous works dedicated to the brilliant philosophers and culturologists of the past. The academician also published a large-scale study of ancient philosophical concepts and theological theories.

Private life

During his long life, Valentin Ferdinandovich Asmus managed not only to publish hundreds of scientific papers, but also to marry twice and become the father of four children.

The first wife of the academician was Irina Sergeevna Asmus, who was very friendly with the famous poet and writer Boris Pasternak. Soon, thanks to her influence, Valentin Ferdinandovich became a great friend of Pasternak and for many years defended the disgraced genius, using his official position. From his first marriage, the professor left a daughter, Maria, who for some time was the muse and wife of the famous writer Yuri Nagibin.

A few years after the death of his first wife, Valentin Ferdinandovich marries for the second time, choosing the young beauty Ariadna Borisovna as his life partner, with whom he lived until his death. In this union, the professor had three children - Elena, Valentin and Vitaly.

Contemporaries of the academician note that Asmus was a deeply religious person and, despite the godless period inhistory of Russia, nevertheless managed to keep the faith and pass it on to children, raising them in a strict religious atmosphere.

Awards

Contemporaries highly appreciated the services of V. F. Asmus to the Fatherland, as well as his contribution to world logic:

• In 1943, the academician was awarded the Stalin Prize for his participation in the work on the encyclopedia "History of Philosophy";
• In 1965, Asmus was awarded the title of "Honored Scientist of the RSFSR";
• In 1974, Valentin Ferdinandovich was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.

His contribution to science cannot be overestimated.