Jacques Maritain and Nikolai Berdyaev: a "Touching Dialogue" Between a Thomist Philosopher and a Russian Thinker

The first meeting between Berdyaev and Maritain took place in 1925 thanks to the widow of the French mystical writer Léon Bloy — Jeanne. This acquaintance will entail a series of events that have become unifying for the two thinkers – joint conferences in Paris, informal meetings in Clamart, joint publications and public debates about Descartes, discussions and disputes, but most importantly – a constant dialogue. Despite the obvious dividing lines between the philosophy of Thomism and Russian philosophy, Berdyaev and Maritain did not turn these lines into a rift, but on the contrary they were "erased". The shared love for Dostoevsky, the tireless support of Esprit magazine, their criticism of Soviet communism and the fight against anti–Semitism — these touchpoints allow us to talk about Berdyaev and Maritain not as two intellectual rivals, but as friends. The report is based on the book by French researcher and historian Bernard Hubert "Jacques Maritain et Nicolas Berdiaev: un "émouvant dialogue" entre le philosophe thomiste et le philosophe russe (1925-1948)". In it, the author examines in detail the correspondence of the two philosophers, as well as the circumstances of their personal and public meetings, the facts of biography and other unique evidence.

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