The “West-Russia” Dichotomy in 19th Century Russian Philosophical Thought

Introduction. The place of Russian philosophy in the 19th century world philosophy determined through its relationship with European philosophical discourse. Russian synthetic philosophy, with a certain originality of its cultural foundations and an individual path of formation, does not allow us to consider it outside the world philosophical process. Content. In the 19th century Russian philosophy, there is an intensive growth of self-awareness. Understanding the purpose of Russian philosophy is connected with a critical reflection on the history of Christianity. Westernizers and Slavophiles, populists and pochvenniks, complement each other in one way or another and do not allow them to go to extremes, which contributes to their reconciliation and the search for new ways of developing Russian philosophy. The foundations of the philosophy of unity (vseedinstvo) are being formed, with the recognition of the identity of any culture. Russian philosophical thought is based on both the European path of development of philosophy and the traditions of Orthodox culture, defining on this basis the path of its development, where the ideas of Christianity acquire the status of a social program for the transformation of society and man. Conclusions. The result of the dialectical spiritual struggle between the Westerners and Slavophiles is the understanding of the Russian idea in moral and practical philosophy, which is focused, on the one hand, on personal spiritual self-improvement and development, and, on the other hand, on the transformation of society and personality.