The author questions the idea firmly established in the academic circles that Slavophilism originated during the
winter of 1838-1839 and looks at the early origins of Slavophilism, its philosophical and social roots. In the authors
opinion, it was the fascination of the Russian society with German philosophy that has played the decisive role in
shaping the interest to national consciousness. This problem caused particular concern of Decembrist writers and
philosophers. The author considers that many ideas of Russian philosophers before 1825 were pre-Slavophilic,
which proves the existence of Slavophilism already in 1830s. Thus, there is a need to revise the lower historical
border of Slavophilism.
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