It's been a while since I last read this; I just re-read it as part of my preparation for a conference presentation. Is Berdyaev a philosopher who wants to be a theologian or a theologian who ranges into philosophy? He seems to straddle the line. What I think makes him appropriate for this forum is that, while he is rooted in the East's thinking (he especially looks up to Dostoevsky), he is fluent in Western philosophy as well. This book is an effort to define freedom and slavery and examine the many ways we humans are enslaved or, too frequently, enslave ourselves. Berdyaev is not easy to categorize because he speaks much about "personalism" though he does not mean exactly what the Western personalists mean by that term. He is of course quite good on collectivism. All-in-all this is a strong book, but with one glaring exception: his derogatory take on feminine nature. For most of the book he never mentions women. It is only in the section of slavery to sex ("The erotic lure and slavery. Sex, personality and freedom.") where he explicitly references women as opposed to humanity in general. He also seems to denigrate the family and sex (sexuality) itself. His thought here falls far short of what was explored by St. John Paul II in the Theology of the Body. If you enjoy philosophy and would like exposure to one of the premier emigre Eastern philosophers of the 20th century, Berdyaev's book is a good place to begin.
Last edited by 2lungsambassador; 06/17/14 08:37 AM.
