Mikhail Aleksandrovich Bakunin: biography, basic ideas

Mikhail Aleksandrovich Bakunin is one of the most famous philosophers of the 19th century. He had a significant influence on the formation of modern anarchism. His works have been translated into many languages and are still relevant. The philosopher was also a famous pan-Slavist. Modern supporters of this idea often refer to the works of Mikhail Alexandrovich.

His ideas attracted many participants of the October Revolution, which changed the world forever. This is definitely one of the most prominent figures among Russian thinkers.

Childhood and youth

Mikhail Aleksandrovich Bakunin was born on May 30, 1814 in the Tver Province. His family lived quite richly. Father and mother were large landlords with a noble title. In addition to Michael himself, there were 9 other children in the family. Their content required huge funds, which already speaks of the prosperity of Bakunin. Since childhood Mikhail studied at home. At the age of 15 he was sent to the army service. In St. Petersburg, he was trained artillery. At the age of 19 he entered the officer's school. However, in the same year he was expelled from there, because he rudely communicated with the senior in rank. Another two years young Bakunin spends in the troops.

In 1835 he left the service and moved to Moscow. There he meets the famous writer Stankevich. Approximately at this time it is captured by German philosophy. He begins to actively study history and sociology. He quickly becomes an entry in all literary salons. His speeches are to the liking of many representatives of the well-known intelligentsia. From Moscow, Mikhail often goes to his parents' estate and to St. Petersburg. In the environment of philosophers also acquires considerable popularity. In 1939 there was an acquaintance with Herzen.

Emigration

The study of philosophy Mikhail Aleksandrovich Bakunin devotes almost all of his time. However, he does not have his own income and actually lives for parental money. The family does not support this way of life and wants Michael to return to the estate and work there as an estate. But nevertheless, the father regularly sends money to his son. Often Michael lives at the expense of his friends, he stops for a long time in other people's houses. He is fluent in German. In the original he reads the classics of German philosophy. By 1840, much attention was paid to the creations of Hegel. He shares his thoughts with friends. He writes in various magazines.

The fascination with German philosophy leads to the fact that Michael decides to move to Berlin in order to become more familiar with this layer of science. Approximately at this time, the secret police will find out that there is such a philosopher - Mikhail Aleksandrovich Bakunin. Biography of a simple nobleman is spoiled by communication with various "unreliable elements". However, Mikhail has not been subjected to any persecution.

For a trip to Berlin, he needs money, and considerable. Since the writer does not have his own income, he refers to a single sponsor - his father. For this, he writes a long letter, clearly stating his intentions. The father gives permission for the trip, but refuses to allocate funds for it. Bakunin has to ask to borrow from his friend Herzen. He allocates a huge amount - 2 thousand rubles. Now the prospect of traveling to Germany becomes more real.

Shortly before his departure, Mikhail has a quarrel with the writer Katkov, which spills over into a fight. In the heat, Bakunin summons an opponent to a duel, but the next day he thinks about it.

In Europe

In 1940, Mikhail Aleksandrovich Bakunin arrives in Berlin. There he starts a lot of new acquaintances. It joins the circles of reformers. Most of all he was interested in Hegel's philosophy. The Russian philosopher is hotly received into the "Hegelian" club. Michael writes in various German newspapers. At about this time, the bias of his views becomes more and more "left". He wrote several revolutionary brochures, which were widely appreciated in the circle of various socialists. In addition to German philosophers, the circle of Bakunin's contacts included also Polish and Russian emigrants. Among them was Ivan Turgenev. After several years in Berlin, Michael meets Marx and even talks to him several times.

Revolutionary activity

After a while, the philosopher moves to Paris, where he is closer to the Polish intelligentsia. At one of the banquets, he gives a speech with the support of the right of the Polish people to self-determination.

After that it becomes clear that he will not be able to return to Russia. In Paris, Bakunin's views are increasingly radicalized. Here he adjoins the radical left. At the insistence of St. Petersburg, Mikhail is being expelled from France. However, the February revolution breaks out soon, and Bakunin returns.

Mikhail Aleksandrovich is engaged in the organization of workers. But because of his radical views, the new government decides to expel the Russian figure to Germany.

After that he travels a lot around Europe. During his stay in Prague he publishes several of his pan-Slavic works. Decides to remain forever in Europe, but in 1851 he was transferred to the tsarist police and deported to Russia. There he spends his time in confinement and exile. For four years, Mikhail Aleksandrovich Bakunin lived in Tomsk. Then he flew to England from there. He died June 19, 1876 in Switzerland, where he was buried.

Bakunin Mikhail Aleksandrovich: main ideas

The main ideas of the Russian philosopher were based on materialism. Mikhail Alexandrovich can be described as a "left" ideologist. He believed that state power should be completely destroyed. In its place there will be a kind of association of different communities. According to Bakunin, each community can act absolutely autonomously. The power is collective. As a logical result of such a device - a strong development of the mechanisms of social management and interaction. Communities had to interact with each other according to the principle of federation.

For the theory of such a device in society, he was repeatedly criticized by moderate socialists. In their opinion, the central authority should exist, which was completely denied by Bakunin Mikhail Alexandrovich. The ideas of social equality and community based on the principle of communes were called "anarchocollectivism." In this case, the only possible method of creating such a system, according to the philosopher, was the revolution. The poorest sections of the population were considered the driving force , as they were distinguished by their high numbers and ability to mobilize. Revolutionary governing bodies were supposed to come from the bottom.

The evaluation of communism

Bakunin criticized Marx and his supporters in the context of the state.

He believed that the dictatorship of the proletariat would inevitably lead to the usurpation of power. The degeneration of the revolutionaries into a new class of oppressors was a natural consequence of Marx's proposed system. However, at the same time, Mikhail Aleksandrovich himself highly valued the works of the German philosopher and personally wrote several positive reviews. In the geopolitical sphere, he viewed Austria and Turkey as the main enemies of the working class. He believed that these empires should be destroyed to make progress. Turkey and Austria oppressed many nations, which was the main problem of Europe, according to Bakunin.

Pan-Slavism

During the emigration Bakunin paid much attention to the problems of the Slavs. His pan-Slavic works became known throughout Europe. He believed that all Slavs should unite. Bakunin did not consider any particular country as a center of unification. On the contrary, he believed that it was necessary to build a federation where all the Slavic peoples would be equal. For the contradiction to this principle, he repeatedly criticized the governments of Austria and Turkey. I also paid attention to Polish chauvinism. Partially affected the same phenomena on the territory of the Russian Empire.

Followers of ideas

Bakunin Mikhail Alexandrovich has many followers to this day. Basically, these are radical anarchists. They found a symbiosis between the works of Bakunin and another Russian theoretician, Kropotkin. Most often subcultural marginalists distort the views of the philosopher about building a just society, leading them to the point of absurdity.

In addition to the anarchists, Bakunin is also respected in the circles of other "lefts." For example, Marxists and neo-Bolsheviks regularly refer to his writings. The fact that the Bolsheviks shared some of the views of the anarchist is evidenced by at least a number of streets named after the philosopher. At the entrance to the Kremlin, on the orders of Lenin himself, the inscription "Bakunin Mikhail Alexandrovich" was knocked out. A brief biography of the Russian revolutionary is included in the compulsory program of all political institutes.