An Introduction to Vladimir Solovyev’s Three Conversations on War, Morals and Religion

This paper aims at reflecting on Vl. Solovyev's Three Conversations as a philosophical and religious fable. The stress is put on studying each of the protagonists: the Lady, the General, the Politician, Mr. Z, the Prince, as well as the Antichrist and the heads of the three main Christian denominations: the pope, the starets John and prof. Pauli. Each of them is presented both as a real type with his own idiosyncrasies (which is very important) and as an illustration of the truths and deficiencies of his time and milieu, keeping in mind the idea (so dear to Solovyev) that the people who actually promote and contribute to the good can only be those who have maintained a sense of humour and are the bearers of an honest, simple and authentic cultural and spiritual tradition, even if it is incomplete. The Antichrist seduces people by encouraging muddle-headedness, libido dominandi, intellectual pride and the taste for the sublime. Through those means he conquers, before being ultimately defeated by his own nothingness.