Russian Cosmism

Russian Cosmism is a fascinating and original movement that blends science and spirituality in a quest for the ultimate destiny of humanity and the universe. It emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Russia, a country that was undergoing rapid social and political changes. Cosmism was inspired by the visionary ideas of thinkers like Nikolai Fyodorov, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, and Vladimir Vernadsky, who proposed radical solutions to the problems of death, suffering, and cosmic isolation. Cosmism also influenced the development of Soviet science, culture, and ideology, as well as the contemporary debates on transhumanism, posthumanism, and the Anthropocene. In this article, we will explore the origins, main features, and current relevance of this unique and influential movement.

History
The founder of Russian Cosmism was Nikolai Fyodorov (1828-1903), an illegitimate son of Prince Pavel Gagarin who lived an ascetic life as a librarian in Moscow. Fyodorov was a visionary thinker who devised a plan for a common task for humanity: the bodily resurrection of all humans who ever lived. He believed that this was not only possible but also morally obligatory, as a way of overcoming death, suffering, and injustice. He also argued that humans should use their technological and scientific abilities to transform nature, colonize other planets, and eventually merge with the divine. Fyodorov’s ideas were admired by many prominent intellectuals of his time, such as Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and Vladimir Solovyov. He also inspired a group of disciples who continued and developed his philosophy after his death. Among them were Konstantin Tsiolkovsky (1857-1935), a pioneer of theoretical space exploration and cosmonautics; Vladimir Vernadsky (1863-1945), a founder of geochemistry and the concept of the noosphere; and Alexander Chizhevsky (1897-1964), a biophysicist and heliobiologist who studied the effects of solar activity on human history.

Beliefs
Russian Cosmism is a philosophical and cultural movement that emerged in Russia at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. It combines elements of religion, ethics, and science to envision the origin, evolution, and future of the cosmos and humankind. It also advocates for radical life extension, human immortality, resurrection of dead people, and interplanetary travel by means of scientific methods. In this essay, I will explore the main beliefs and ideas of Russian Cosmism, as well as its historical and contemporary influences.

The founder of Russian Cosmism is Nikolai Fyodorov (1828-1903), an illegitimate son of a prince who lived an ascetic and Christian life. He devised a plan for a common task for humanity, which he called "the common cause". The common cause consists of three main goals: 1) to overcome death by resurrecting all ancestors using scientific means; 2) to overcome division by creating a universal brotherhood of all humans; and 3) to overcome nature by transforming and regulating the cosmos according to human will. Fyodorov believed that these goals were not only possible but also necessary and moral, as they would fulfill God's plan for creation and human destiny.

Fyodorov's ideas inspired many renowned Russian scientists and thinkers, such as Konstantin Tsiolkovsky (1857-1935), Vladimir Vernadsky (1863-1945), and Alexander Chizhevsky (1897-1964). Tsiolkovsky was a pioneer of theoretical space exploration and cosmonautics. He wrote many works on rocket science, space colonization, and extraterrestrial life. He also propounded a philosophy of panpsychism, which holds that everything in the universe has a mind or consciousness. He believed that humans would eventually colonize the Milky Way and become one with the cosmic mind. Vernadsky was the founder of geochemistry and the concept of noosphere. He studied the interaction between living organisms and their environment, and proposed that the Earth is a living system that evolves through geological and biological processes. He also introduced the idea of noosphere, which is the sphere of human thought that influences and transforms the biosphere. He believed that the noosphere would eventually encompass the entire cosmos and achieve harmony with God. Chizhevsky was a biophysicist and cosmist who studied the effects of solar activity on human history and behavior. He developed a theory of heliobiology, which claims that solar cycles influence biological rhythms, health, mood, creativity, and social events. He also advocated for solar communism, which is a form of social organization based on solar energy and cosmic harmony.

Russian Cosmism was a heterodox theory that contrasted with the official communist ideology in the Soviet Union. However, it also influenced some aspects of Soviet culture, science, and politics. For example, Cosmism inspired many Soviet writers, artists, filmmakers, and musicians who explored themes of space exploration, cosmic spirituality, utopianism, and human transformation. Some examples are Mikhail Bulgakov's novel The Master and Margarita (1967), Andrei Tarkovsky's film Solaris (1972), Arkady and Boris Strugatsky's novel Roadside Picnic (1972), Eduard Artemyev's music for Stalker (1979), and Ilya Kabakov's installation The Man Who Flew into Space from His Apartment (1985). Cosmism also influenced some Soviet scientists and engineers who worked on space programs, nuclear weapons, biotechnology, cybernetics, and paranormal phenomena. Some examples are Sergei Korolev (1907-1966), who was the chief designer of the Soviet space program; Andrei Sakharov (1921-1989), who was the father of the Soviet hydrogen bomb; Trofim Lysenko (1898-1976), who was the leader of Soviet biology; Anatoly Kitov (1920-2005), who was one of the founders of Soviet cybernetics; and Alexey Savin (1936-2018), who was the director of a secret unit that researched psychic warfare.

Today, Russian Cosmism is still influential in some circles of Russian intellectuals, politicians, military, and religious leaders. Some see it as a source of national identity and a distinctively Russian response to transhumanism in the West. Transhumanism is a movement that advocates for enhancing human capacities through technology, such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, nanotechnology, and mind uploading. Some of the differences between Cosmism and Transhumanism are: 1) Cosmism is more religious and spiritual, while Transhumanism is more secular and rational; 2) Cosmism is more collective and altruistic, while Transhumanism is more individualistic and egoistic; 3) Cosmism is more conservative and traditional, while Transhumanism is more progressive and radical. One of the groups that claims the legacy of Cosmist thought is the Izborsky Club, which is a conservative think tank that supports an imperialist and anti-Western agenda for Russia. The Izborsky Club aims to define an ideology for the Russian state that is based on Cosmist principles, such as resurrection, brotherhood, and cosmic expansion.

In conclusion, Russian Cosmism is a philosophical and cultural movement that has a rich and complex history and a significant impact on Russian society and culture. It expresses a unique vision of the cosmos and humankind that is based on religion, ethics, and science. It also proposes a grandiose plan for human destiny that involves overcoming death, division, and nature by means of scientific methods. It has inspired many Russian scientists, thinkers, artists, and politicians who have contributed to the fields of space exploration, geochemistry, biophysics, cosmology, literature, film, music, and art. It has also influenced some aspects of Soviet and post-Soviet culture, science, and politics. It has also contrasted with and challenged some Western movements, such as communism and transhumanism. It continues to be relevant and influential today in some circles of Russian society that seek to define a national idea for Russia based on Cosmist beliefs.

Friends
Buddhism, Taoism and Hinduism- WIP

Christianism- WIP

Panphysicism- WIP

Frenemies
Marxism- WIP

Transhumanism- WIP

Enemies
Nihilism- WIP

Existentialism- WIP

Post-Modernism- WIP