Vladimir Solovyov · "The absolute cannot be known by the relative, but the relative can know the ab..."

Critique of Abstract Principles, 1880 · Checked on 2 July 2026

The absolute cannot be known by the relative, but the relative can know the absolute.

Analysis

Solovyov, in his critique of abstract principles, argued that while the absolute (divine or ultimate reality) transcends human (relative) understanding, humans can still apprehend or 'know' the absolute through faith, intuition, or spiritual insight. This aligns with his broader metaphysical and theological views, particularly in works like *The Crisis of Western Philosophy* and *Lectures on Divine Humanity*.

Background

Vladimir Solovyov (1853–1900) was a Russian philosopher and theologian who sought to reconcile rationalism with mysticism, emphasizing the interplay between the absolute (God) and the relative (human existence). His ideas were influenced by German idealism and Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

Verdict summary

The statement accurately reflects Vladimir Solovyov's philosophical position on the relationship between the absolute and the relative.

Sources consulted

— Solovyov, V. (1880). *Critique of Abstract Principles* (in Russian: *Критика отвлечённых начал*).

— Solovyov, V. (1874). *The Crisis of Western Philosophy: Against the Positivists*.

— Kline, G. (1977). *Religious and Anti-Religious Thought in Russia*. University of Chicago Press.