The word made self: Russian writings on language, 1860-1930

254 Pages·2010·19.937 MB·English

by  Seifrid, Thomas

THE WORD
MADE SELF

THE WORD
MADE SELF
Russian Writings on Language, 1860-1930
THOMAS SEIFRID
Cornell University Press
Ithaca and London
~-----------~------------~
Parts of this book appeared in "Khaidegger i russkie o iazyke i bytii,"
Novoe literaturnoe obozrenie 51:3 (2002): 64-75.
© Novoe literaturnoe obozrenie, Moscow, 2002. Used here by permission.
Copyright © 2005 by Cornell University
All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in a review, this book, or parts
thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the
publisher. For information, address Cornell University Press, Sage House, 512 East
State Street, Ithaca, New York 14850.
First published 2005 by Cornell Universiry Press
Printed in the United States of America
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Seifrid, Thomas.
The word made self: Russian writings on language, I86o-1930 I Thomas Seifrid.
p. em.
"Parts of this book appeared in Novoe literaturnoe obozrenie 51:3 (2002)."
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN o-8014-4316-4 (cloth : alk. paper)
1. Language and languages--Philosophy. 2. Philosophy, Russian--History.
I. Tide.
Pw7.S45 2005
40o--dc22
2004023506
Cornell University Press strives to use environmentally responsible suppliers and
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include vegetable-based, low-VOC inks and acid-free papers that are recycled, totally
chlorine-free, or partly composed of nonwood fibers. For further information, visit
our website at www.cornellpress.cornell.edu.
Cloth printing 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 I
for Martin

Contents
Acknowledgments IX
Introduction
1. Potebnia and the Revival of Russian Thought about
Language 7
2. Russia's Culture of Logos in the Early Twentieth Century 53
3. Orthodox Essentialism and Its Dialogue with Modern
Thought 82
4· Through the Prism of Phenomenology 130
Conclusion 202
Selected Bibliography 223
Index 235

Acknowledgments
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CONDUCT RESEARCH as involved as that
which went into this book without incurring debts, which I here gratefully
acknowledge.
A National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Stipend made it
possible for me to travel to Russia in 1995 and consult important materials to
which access would otherwise have been difficult if not impossible. A Simp
son Humanities Grant, awarded through the College of Letters, Arts and Sci
ences at the University of Southern California, enabled me to buy a new
computer that made working with my increasingly large and numerous files
a far pleasanter task. Ongoing research support from the same College of
Letters, Arts and Sciences made possible another trip to Russia in 2000 and
has facilitated the purchase of books and other needed materials all along.
I am indebted to many individuals as well. Caryl Emerson provided in
sightful, critical, and sympathetic commentary on the manuscript of a sort
an author can usually only dream about. John G. Ackerman at Cornell Uni
versity Press kept interest in this project alive despite the many other press
ing claims on his time (and Cornell University Press in general should be
commended for its staunch support of publishing in the area of Russian
studies). Galin Tihanov and Robert Bird generously shared their ideas, their
enthusiasm for Russian philosophy, and their impressive bibliographical
knowledge. Nicoletta Misler brought me a copy of Florenskii's study of
names, lmena, at a crucial juncture, while Elizabeth Durst provided me
with one of Shpet's Filosofikie etiudy. To my colleagues in the Department
of Slavic Languages and Literatures at USC I am indebted for years of re
warding interaction.
I would also like to thank (if I may) the several climbing partners I have
had over the years, who have held their share of falls and led routes when I
didn't feel up to it, and whose camaraderie has helped to keep me sane: Alex
Watts-Tobin, Tony Bird, John Dambros, Johan and Elvira Burger, andes
pecially Miklos and Krisztina Peterf)r.
Most of all I thank my wife, Lena, and son, Martin, who make every
thing worthwhile.
T.S.