“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: 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 again presented the world with 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 invaluable huge legacy of this wonderful person.
Incredible man
Valentin Ferdinandovich Asmus is a famous domestic philosopher and theologian. From under his pen came a great many different scientific treatises and religious works. As the founder of Russian logic, he not only made a huge contribution to the development of this science, but also brought up several generations of logicians who later became legendary personalities. Valentin Asmus devoted many years of his life to the study of philosophical theories of Emanuel Kant, becoming the largest Russian-speaking specialist in this field. His works on the theories and ideologies of Kant are recognized as classical in many countries of the world, including in the homeland of Kant himself.
In addition to scientific achievements, Valentin Ferdinandovich was remembered by 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 copyrighted works, as well as take part in joint work with other writers, simultaneously performing the work of an editor, proofreader and consultant in theology.
In the early forties, the merits of the logic were marked by the Stalin Prize, which the scientist received in 1943, as well as the title "Honored Scientist of the RSFSR", which Asmus was awarded in 1965.
Biography
Valentin Ferdinandovich Asmus was born on December 30, 1894 in Kiev, Russian Empire, into a family of nobles. The Asmus clan was not quite close to the Imperial court, but it did not vegetate in poverty, so young Valentine received an excellent preschool and primary school education. The tutors of the boy noted his amazing learning ability and incredible craving for knowledge. Having received a home education, Valentine goes to study at the famous Kiev gymnasium, which he graduates two years earlier than his peers.
After graduating from an educational institution with a gold medal, Asmus decides to continue his studies at Kiev University, choosing to study philosophical sciences and theology, and additionally enrolling in a section on the study of philology and cultural studies.
Training
Having entered the university, Valentine immediately joins the hard work of student scientific sections and circles. In the next five years of training, the young man gains a reputation as a promising philologist and philosopher. Asmus’s brilliant speeches at scientific conferences, symposia and rallies of philosophy lovers could not go unnoticed in the scientific community. In 1916, Valentine decided to submit his work “On the Tasks of Musical Criticism” to the competition. The work of a young scientist brought 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 interested in 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.
His scandalous article entitled "On the Great Captivity of Russian Culture" spoiled Valentina's reputation a lot. 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
In the late forties, Valentin Ferdinandovich Asmus began to get seriously involved in logic. In the twenties, this science was almost destroyed by the Soviet regime, and now the shoulders of a middle-aged scientist have faced the difficult task of restoring it and putting it in order. It so happened that it was in the hands of Asmus that all the knowledge in this discipline was concentrated. Moreover, the professor systematized the available information and substantially supplemented it, using information from personal correspondence with scientists who had already left the country who were now in exile.
In difficult times 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 urgent disputes about the nature of logic as such, which led to a fierce debate in which the scientist himself actively participated.
He managed not only to systematize and streamline the process of scientific debate, but also to involve many graduate students and masters in them, 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 taught to a limited number of gifted students, then corrected, supplemented, and published as a separate scientific work.
Teacher career
The biography of V.F. Asmus mentions that the professor devoted many years to teaching, teaching students of higher educational institutions of Russia and Ukraine. In Soviet times, he taught for many years at the ethnological faculty of Moscow State University, sometimes giving lectures at the IKP, AKV 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 V.F. Asmus was incredibly close to Kant's basic theoretical views. Close professors claim that Valentin Ferdinandovich even acquired a telescope in order to, like Kant, observe the celestial bodies. Asmus had no discrepancies with the great philosopher in the basic questions of philosophy and logic, only in certain positions he categorically disagreed with him. Almost all the works on Immanuel Kant published in the Soviet era were somehow influenced by Asmus or were created with his direct participation.
Proceedings
Books of V.F. 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 has published more than two hundred and fifty articles, some of them were written in collaboration with his famous contemporaries. The scientist’s work has been actively translated and continues to adapt to other languages, such as Finnish, Norwegian, German, Polish, Ukrainian, Croatian, English, etc.
"Ancient Philosophy" by V.F. Asmus is perhaps the most famous work of a scientist, after the publication of which the whole world started talking about Russian logic. However, in addition to this, quite sensational at the time of publication, the scientist has published many other famous works devoted to the brilliant philosophers and culturologists of the past. Also, the academician published a large-scale study of ancient philosophical concepts and theological theories.
Personal life
During his long life, Valentin Ferdinandovich Asmus managed not only to release hundreds of scientific works, 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 the first marriage, the professor had 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 a young beauty Ariadna Borisovna, with whom he lived until his death, as his life partner. In this union, the professor had three children - Elena, Valentin and Vitaliy.
Contemporaries of the academician note that Asmus was a deeply religious person and, despite the godless period in the history of Russia, he was nevertheless able to preserve the faith and pass it on to children, educating them in a strict religious atmosphere.
Awards
Contemporaries praised the merits 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 participating in the work on the encyclopedia History of Philosophy;
- In 1965, Asmus was awarded the title "Honored Scientist of the RSFSR";
- In 1974, Valentin Ferdinandovich was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.
It is difficult to overestimate his contribution to science.