The concept of Russian cosmism by George Young

The article continues a series of publications in which Russian cosmism is studied as an original cultural phenomenon generated by the specifics of the period of «Gorbachev’s» perestroika. It is shown that the features of the political culture of Russians described by Young are generally correct. The merit of Young’s concept is the detailed substantiation of the popularity of the ideas of Russian cosmism among the Russian intelligentsia. Young manages to overcome the barrier of cultural differences. He finds in the writings of the Russian cosmists such formulations of questions and ways of solving them, which can contribute to the solution of global problems facing humanity. It is shown that the application of the methodology of the study of Western esotericism by A. Faivre to the study of Russian cosmism by Young has certain limitations. The four main and two additional characteristics of esotericism highlighted by Faivre can partly be found in the literary and philosophical heritage of N. F. Fedorov. The characteristics of esotericism highlighted by Faivre are even less applicable to the theories of Russian cosmists-scientists. The drawback of Young’s concept of Russian cosmism lies in the uncritical acceptance of S. G. Semyonova’s idea about N. F. Fyodorov as the «ancestor of Russian cosmism,» as well as about K. E. Tsiolkovsky, A. L. Chizhevsky and V. I. Vernadsky as those who developed these or other provisions teachings of N.F. Fedorov.