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<p>This article analyzes the connection between Lev Shestov’s style and the performative nature of his philosophy. The main thesis is that Shestov’s struggle against reason is inseparable from his intentional and unintentional work on the linguistic structures of knowledge. It follows that the performative aspect of Shestov’s texts lies not so much in their content as in their form. The article argues that Shestov’s aphoristic style, with its abundance of questions, quotations and poetic effusions, is nothing less than an attempt to destroy knowledge as a linguistic construct. In pursuit of this goal, Shestov fights two enemies. The first is narration, which creates an alternative verbal world of absolutely explained reality. The second is judgment, which excludes all ambiguity and contradiction. By taking apart these structures, Shestov moves toward the realm of freedom, which lies beyond all concepts of reason. The result of this struggle also affects the readers of Shestov’s text. His style disorients us, challenges our habit of being passive consumers of philosophical wisdom, and forces us to search for reality ourselves.</p>

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The act of writing as a struggle against knowledge—on the performative character of Shestov’s philosophy

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月11日

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  • Timofej Murašov

摘要

This article analyzes the connection between Lev Shestov’s style and the performative nature of his philosophy. The main thesis is that Shestov’s struggle against reason is inseparable from his intentional and unintentional work on the linguistic structures of knowledge. It follows that the performative aspect of Shestov’s texts lies not so much in their content as in their form. The article argues that Shestov’s aphoristic style, with its abundance of questions, quotations and poetic effusions, is nothing less than an attempt to destroy knowledge as a linguistic construct. In pursuit of this goal, Shestov fights two enemies. The first is narration, which creates an alternative verbal world of absolutely explained reality. The second is judgment, which excludes all ambiguity and contradiction. By taking apart these structures, Shestov moves toward the realm of freedom, which lies beyond all concepts of reason. The result of this struggle also affects the readers of Shestov’s text. His style disorients us, challenges our habit of being passive consumers of philosophical wisdom, and forces us to search for reality ourselves.