Philosophical Oriental Studies. By the 100th Anniversary of the Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Sciences (1921-2021)

The Russian Oriental studies are rich and diverse in their disciplines. The focus of research activities conducted mainly at the university centres of St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kazan, and during Soviet times in the capitals of some republics (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, etc.), was largely determined by the domestic political and geopolitical interests of the Russian Empire. Thus, a philosophical aspect in oriental studies, as well as university philosophical education practical^ did not exist. The changes brought by the revolution of 1917 have greatly affected all fields of social life, including the academic milieu. The article examines a complex and contradictory path of development of the national philosophy, on the example of the Institute founded in 1921 by Gustav Gustavovich Speth (1879-1937), nowadays the Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The latter has become the main focal point of the philosophical research activities in the former Soviet Union. Particular attention is paid to the liberation from the Eurocentrism inherited from imperial times concerning the spiritual heritage of the peoples of the East as a whole, and in philosophy in particular. The pivotal points of its activity became “History of Philosophy” in 3 Volumes (19411943) and “History of Philosophy” in 6 Volumes (1957-1966). The real breakthrough was the encyclopedias, such as: “The New Philosophical Encyclopedia” in 4 volumes (2001); “Indian philosophy. Encyclopedia” (2009); “The Philosophy of Buddhism: Encyclopedia” (2011). The Orientalist aspect in higher philosophical education nowadays becomes more visible. The recent international recognition of the achievements of the Russian Orientalist philosophical studies regardless of a relatively small number of specialists is largely due to their collective efforts and close cooperation.

1. Vasilkov Ya. V., Sorokina M. Yu. People and their destinies. Biobibliographic Dictionary of Orientalist scholars the victims of Political Terror in the Soviet Period (1917-1991). St. Petersburg: Peterburgskoye vostokovedenie; 2003. 496 p. (In Russ.)

2. Klimovich L. I. Islam. Essays. Moscow: Publisher of the USSR Academy of Sciences; 1962. 288 p. (In Russ.)

3. Alexandrov G. F., B. E. Byhovsky, M. B. Mitin, P. F. Yudin (eds) History of Philosophy. Vol. 1. Moscow: OGIZ; Gospolitizdat; 1941. 488 p. (In Russ.)

4. Andreev A. I. Buddhological Research of the Member of the Russian Academy F. I. Scherbatskoi and Tibet. Bulletin of the Russian Christian Academy 2008;9(1):159-168. (In Russ.)

5. History of philosophy. In 6 vols. Moscow: Publisher of the USSR Academy of Sciences; 1957-1966. (In Russ.)

6. Frolov I. T. (ed.) Introduction to philosophy. Textbook for higher educational institutions. In 2 pts. Moscow: Politizdat; 1989. 367 + 639 p. (In Russ.)

7. Motroshiliva N. V. (ed.) History of philosophy: The Wes - Russia - The East. Textbook for higher educational institutions. In 3 books. Moscow: Greko-latinsky cabinet; 1995-1998. 447 p.; 557 p.; 448 p. (In Russ.)

8. Stepanyants M. T. The Eastern philosophical teachings. Textbook for higher educational institutions. Moscow: Academichesky Proekt; 2011. 550 p. (In Russ.)

9. New Philosophical Encyclopaedia. In 4 vols. Moscow: Mysl'; 2000-2001. 721, [2] p.; 634, [2] p.; 692, [2] p.; 605, [1] p. (In Russ.)

10. Stepanyants M. T. (ed.) Philosophy of India. An Encyclopaedia. Moscow: Vostochnaya literatura; Academichesky Proekt; Gaudeamus; 2009. 950 p. (In Russ.)

11. Stepanyants M. T. (ed.) Philosophy of Buddhism. An Encyclopaedia. Moscow: Vostochnaya literatura; 2011. 1045 p. (In Russ.)

12. Stepanyants M. T. (ed.) Feminism: East - West - Russia. Moscow: Vostochnaya literatura; 1993. 243 p. (In Russ.)

13. Philosophy East & West. 1992. XLII;(2, Apr.).

14. Stepanyants M. T. (ed.) Traditional cultures of the East: God - Man - Society. Moscow: Vostochnaya literatura; 1993. 224 p. (In Russ.)

15. Stepanyants M. T. (ed.) Comparative Philosophy. Issue 1. Moscow: Vostochnaya literatura; 2000. 343 p.v(In Russ.)

16. Stepanyants M. T. (ed.) Moral philosophy in the multicultural context. Comparativephilosophy. Issue 2. Moscow: Vostochnaya literatura; 2004. 320 p. (In Russ.)

17. Stepanyants M. (ed.) Comparative Ethics in a Global Age. Washington: The Council for Research in Values and Philosophy; 2007. 304 p.

18. Stepanyants M. (ed.) Knowledge and Belief as an element of the cultural dialogue. Issue 3 (ser. “Sravnitelnaya philisophia”). Moscow: Vostochnaya literatura; 2008. 342 p. (In Russ.)

19. Stepanyants M. (ed.) Knowledge and Belief in the Dialogue of Cultures. Washington: The Council for Research in Values and Philosophy; 2011. 274 p.

20. Philosophy and Science in the cultures of East and West. Moscow: Nauka; Vostochnaya literatura; 2013. 357 p. (In Russ.)

21. Stepanyants M. (ed.) Philosophy and Science in Cultures of East and West. Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Change. Washington: Council for Research in Values and Philosophy; 2014. 356 p.

22. Stepanyants M. Т. Intercultural philosophy: its origins, methods, problems and prospective. Moscow: Nauka; Vostochnaya literatura; 2020. 183 p. (In Russ.)