ВЕЧНИЯТ МИР В АНТИУТОПИЯТА „НИЕ“
THE ETERNAL PEACE IN THE DYSTOPIA "WE"
Author(s): Magdalena ZarkovaSubject(s): History, Philosophy, Language and Literature Studies, Studies of Literature, History of Philosophy, History of ideas, Russian Literature, Early Modern Philosophy
Published by: Шуменски университет »Епископ Константин Преславски«
Keywords: dystopia; eternal peace; Zamyatin; Kant; totalitarianism
Summary/Abstract: Evgeny Zamyatin's novel "We" deconstructs Kant's utopian project for eternal peace, transforming philosophical concepts of common good and rational moral order into their threatening opposites. The dystopia systematically subverts the preliminary and definitive articles from "Eternal Peace," revealing how the absolutization of rationality can lead to the destruction of human nature. This paper analyzes how the totalitarian One State achieves "peace" by eliminating the individual, religious affiliation, and nationality—precisely what Kant sought to protect in his vision. While Kant's project pursues peace through rational agreement between sovereign states, Zamyatin's world achieves it through war, both physical and metaphysical, against human nature itself. The novel inverts ideas of publicity and transparency, turning them into tools of surveillance rather than guarantors of justice. The figure of the Benefactor embodies the ambiguity between Kant's moral politician and political moralist, while the mechanization of citizens represents the radical solution to the "unsolvable task" of overcoming human selfishness. By eliminating religion and language diversity—which Kant identified as natural barriers against expansionism—the novel demonstrates how utopian rationalism can lead to its opposite: the death of freedom and humanity. "We" thus serves as both a demonstration of the deviations predicted by Kant and a deconstruction of his utopian project.
Journal: Слово и общество
- Issue Year: 2025
- Issue No: 4
- Page Range: 53-64
- Page Count: 12
- Language: Bulgarian
