From groundlessness—to freedom: The theme of ‘awakening’ in the thought of Lev Shestov

Abstract The philosopher Lev Shestov aimed to establish a new free way of thinking, which manifested itself as struggle against the delusion that we have rational grasp necessary truths on matters are greatest importance us, such questions life and death. Philosophy, Russian understood it, is not pure but ‘some kind inner doing, regeneration, or second birth’ (Shestov in Lektsii po Istorii Grecheskoi Filosofii [Lectures history Greek philosophy], YMCA-PRESS, Moscow, 2001, p. 53). Having adopted notion ‘regeneration one’s convictions’ from Dostoevsky’s vocabulary his earlier works, developed idea ‘awakening’ further mature thought, motif comprised one main ideas philosophy: fight for individual’s right freedom creative transformation at time when she despair brink In this article, I analyse Shestov’s key tropes developmental characteristics philosophical vision. particular, argue that, having stemmed interpretations Dostoevsky, Shakespeare Plotinus, later writings, ‘awakening’—the possibility fundamental, worldview ( probuzhdenie, pererozhdenie )—marked beginning salvific mode writing.