Philosophy of the Free Spirit. Problems and Apology in Christianity ( )

Paris: YMCA Press, 1927. First Edition. Wraps. Very good. BERDYAEV, Nikolai, . [Philosophy of the Free Spirit. Problems and Apology in Christianity], YMCA Press, Paris [1927/28]. Vol I: TP + 1 leaf = contents + 5 - 271; Vol II: TP + 1 leaf = contents + 5 - [236]. 2 volume octavo. FIRST EDITION in original printed wrappers.

Berdyaev is considered by many to be one of the most important thinkers of late 19th, early 20th century Russia. His writing engages with themes both philosophical and theological––the spirituality of human freedom in contrast to the historical determinism of Marx and Lenin—-and places him under the anachronistic umbrella of Christian Existentialism along with previous thinkers like Soren Kierkegaard.

“In this book, Berdyaev tells us that the creative development of the spirit and the free exercise of man's powers can be conceived only as the free cooperation of man with the work of God. Creative spiritual development represents a new principle which signifies an offering of human freedom to God, an offering which God expects from us. The life of the spirit is a creative and dynamic process. Spiritual development is possible only because there is freedom. Spiritual development is not movement on the plane of the external world, but the bringing to birth of forces which lie hidden in the inner depths of existence. To quote Berdyaev, ‘the spiritual world is like a torrent of fire in free creative dynamism’” (from Semantron Press, 2009). Published in Exile, text in Russian.

CONDITION: Very good or better in original printed wrappers. Light ownership stamp to inside front cover of vol 1 and TP of vol 2. Light wear, marginal damp stains to last twenty pages of volume two.

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