Vladimir Bibikhin

Vladimir Bibikhin
Born	(1938-08-29)August 29, 1938 Bezhetsk, RSFSR, USSR
Died	December 12, 2004(2004-12-12) (aged 66) Moscow, Russia
Era	20th-century philosophy
Region	Russian philosophy

Vladimir Veniaminovich Bibikhin (August 29, 1938, Bezhetsk — December 12, 2004, Moscow) — Soviet and Russian translator, philologist and philosopher. He is best known for translations of Martin Heidegger that caused mixed reactions among specialists. He lectured in author's courses at the philosophy faculty of Moscow State University (abbr MSU).

Biography

He graduated from Moscow State Linguistic University (abbr. MSLU) in 1967, taught language and translation theory at MSLU and at MGIMO University, but it was the time when philosophy and literature became his main work. He studied ancient languages under Andrey Zaliznyak. He completed his postgraduate study at philosophy faculty of MSU in 1977, defending his Candidate's Thesis titled: "Semantic potentions of linguistic sign". Themes included were 1) interrelations between word and world, 2) word and thought, 3) an approach to word and thought, 4) attempt to think of ontological foundation of language. They were furthered and developed in a seminar "Inner form of word", courses that were called "Philosophy language", "L. Wittgenstein".

He worked as a secretary and an assistant for Aleksei Losev and undertook some recordings of conversations with that philosopher. These recordings collected and published in the book "Aleksei Fedorovich Losev. Sergey Sergeyevich Averintsev".

Bibikhin was employed at the Institute of Philosophy, Russian Academy of Sciences from 1972 until the end of his life. He spent his last years working at the Centre of Methodology and Ethics of Science of the Philosophy of Science and Technology Branch of that Institute. He was a lecturer of Philosophy and member of the faculty of MSU beginning in 1989.

He lectured in author's courses and held seminars at Faculty of Philosophy of MSU in 1980-2004 period, and he also lectured at St Philaret's Christian Institute in Moscow and St. Thomas Institute.

He was buried at Nikolo-Archangelski cemetery in Moscow.

Philosopher and lecturer

Bibikhin had lectured in about 20 courses at MSU and other places. He wrote: «Philosophy always went against the stream. With great risk... Philosophy is for the returning from doctrines to things; for recalling the early; for the ending of divination through words. There is a difference between philosophy and sciences: they are building themselves, philosophy is called to reconstruct itself like a scaffolding after building the house.»

From his point of view, philosophy is not "intellectual activity", not "scientific sphere" or "cultural sphere", philosophers' language is not a "construction", "information about the things", it is a «preparation for possibility of forming knowledge about things based on the last, utmost foundations»; philosophy is an «attempt — guaranteed by nothing – to give my life, human life, back the way in which it was used to be at the very beginning: relation to the world, not to the picture, but to an event.» It is an attempt to let an event be in disinterested word, let it be the «place where an event is shining, becoming a phenomenon», where all that exists is let to be as it really is, not controlled or placed on a register.

Heidegger's thought was always essential to him. In his 4 terms course "Early Heidegger" (90's) the earliest works of that German philosopher is read in an unusual way, i.e.they are not read like something immature and preliminary but as a commentary to later Heidegger. A big part of the course and seminars is devoted to reading and study of the main Heidegger's work "Being and Time"(1927). The last seminars at the Institute of Philosophy and his last article were also dedicated to Heidegger.

Translator

Vladimir Bibikhin translated from Spanish, Italian, Latin, Greek, French, English, German from 1967. He wrote many papers and scientific reviews, commentaries on translations, articles on the theory of translation (the best of them were subsequently included in the book "Word and Event"). Among the names of authors whose works were translated by Bibikhin we can mention Iamblichus, John Amos Comenius, García Lorca, Giuseppe Mazzini, Petrarch, Nicholas of Cusa, St. Gregory Palamas, St. Macarius of Egypt, W. Heisenberg, Jean-Paul Sartre, Gabriel Marcel, Jacques Ellul, Eugène Ionesco, Antonin Artaud, Wilhelm von Humboldt, Sigmund Freud, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Martin Heidegger, Gadamer, Wilhelm Dilthey, Hannah Arendt, Jacques Derrida. Theological translations were published under the pseudonym V. Veneaminov.

Criticism

Bibikhin's views on philosophy of language has been criticised by some professional philosophers and linguists.

N. V. Motroshilova mentioned that Bibikhin had deliberately concealed Heidegger's nearness to the Nazis and ignored empirical evidences of loyalty to the Nazi regime. She also noticed the ambiguity of his "Being and Time" translation: "But his translation of "Being and Time" is worthy of special conversation. This translation is quite interesting and valuable as an independent phenomenon, as a Bibikhin's work. But the point is that it is the first and the only «presence» of "Time and Being" in Russian philosophic culture, in Russian language for now. And, unfortunately, (I've heard it from many teachers), the translation doesn't help but significantly hampers comprehension of that classic work of XX century. So I'd recommend above-mentioned E. Borisov's translation for beginning for only studying Heidegger's philosophy, even though it is not "Being and Time", but Heidegger is more intelligible and adequate."

Critics mention general distortion of Heidegger's works in translation written by Bibikhin. For example, Aleksandr Dugin writes:"It appears that Bibikhin and like-minded persons are really carried away by Heidegger, but there is nothing but that zeal in presentation of Heidegger. It's totally insufferable to read them because these texts say too much about conditions, efforts and sufferings of Bibbikhin and his colleagues-translators, but there is almost nothing except for accidental coincidences, they say nothing about Heidegger or give the picture making one's hair stand on end."

B. Narumov criticizes V. Bibikhin for lack of methodology and disregard for linguistics as a science. Besides, A. Apollonov notices deliberate distortions in translation which are done V. Bibikhin in order to support his judgements by an authority of cited philosopher(as the example he uses Bibikhin's translation of Aristotle).

Political views

V. Bibikhin was a supporter of Chechnya's sovereignty. According to the testimony of Krylov who personally knew Bibikhin, during the Second Chechen War Bibikhin came up to officers of Russian Armed Forces who were seen by philosopher and asked them "not to wage war with free people".

In the December of 2003 V. Bibikhin took part in the public debate on case of Yukos on the side of Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

V. Bibikhin was an adherent to ideas of liberalism, multiculturalism and toleration.

Awards and prizes

He won the Malyi Booker award for book of essays "New Renaissance". He was a laureate of literary prize "Book of the Year" in philosophic and humanitarian thought (for the book "Ludwig Wittgenstein: change of aspect"). He also was awarded to A. Piatigorsky literature prize for the best philosophic work (book "Diaries of Leo Tolstoy") in 2003.

Selective bibliography

Translations

• Николай Кузанский. Об ученом незнании. О предположениях (Часть вторая). Малые произведения 1445—1447 гг. Простец об опытах с весами. О видении Бога. Берилл. Игра в шар. Компендий. Охота за мудростью. О вершине созерцания. (1979—1980).
• Heisenberg V. Part and whole. (Russian: Гейзенберг В. Часть и целое.) (1980).
• Petrarch The word, read by the famous poet (Cicero) ... A book of letters about everyday affairs. Invective against the doctor. Older letters.(Russian: Петрарка Ф. Слово, читанное знаменитым поэтом… Книга писем о делах повседневных. Инвектива против врача. Старческие письма.) (1982)
• Macarius of Egypt Spiritual Homilies (Russian: Макарий Египетский. Новые духовные беседы.) (1990).
• Martin Heidegger Time and Being (articles and speeches) (Russian: Хайдеггер М. Время и бытие (статьи и выступления)) (1993).
• Gregory Palamas Triads in defense of the sacred Св. (Russian: Григорий Палама. Триады в защиту священно-безмолвствующих.) (1995).
• Jacques Derrida Positions (Russian: Жак Деррида. Позиции.) (1996).
• Martin Heidegger Being and time. (Russian: Хайдеггер М. Бытие и время.) (1997).
• Hannah Arendt The banality of evil. (Russian: Арендт Х. VITA ACTIVA или О деятельной жизни.) (2000).

Monographs and edited collections

• Язык философии (1993): — М.: Прогресс, 1993. — 416 с. — ISBN 5-01-004199-5

2-е испр. изд.: Языки славянской культуры, 2002. — 416 с. — ISBN 5-94457-042-3

3-е изд.: М.: Наука, 2007. — 392 с. — Серия «Слово о сущем». — ISBN 5-02-026832-1

4-е изд. (в составе сборника): СПб.: Азбука-Классика, 2015. — 448 с. — ISBN 978-5-389-10597-3

• Мир (1995): (Томск: Водолей, 1995. — 144 с. — ISBN 5-7137-0025-9);

2-е испр. изд.: М.: Наука, 2007. — 434 с. — Серия «Слово о сущем». — ISBN 978-5-02-026282-9.

3-е изд. (в составе сборника): СПб.: Азбука-Классика, 2015. — 448 с. — ISBN 978-5-389-10597-3.

• Новый Ренессанс. — М.: Наука, Прогресс-Традиция, 1998. — 496 с. — ISBN 5-7846-0008-7. 2-е изд., исправл.: Университет Дм. Пожарского, 2013. — 424 с. — ISBN 978-5-91244-058-8.

• Узнай себя. — СПб.: Наука, 1998. — 578 с. — Серия «Слово о сущем». — ISBN 5-02-026791-0. 2-е изд., исправл. и дополн.: СПб: Наука, 2015. — 446 с. — Серия «Слово о сущем». — ISBN 978-5-02-038411-8.

• Слово и событие. — М.: Едиториал УРСС, 2001. — 280 с. — ISBN 5-8360-0215-0. 2-е изд., исправл. и дополн.: М.: Русский Фонд Содействия Образованию и Науке, 2010. — 416 с. — ISBN 978-5-91244-019-9.
• Другое начало. — М.: Наука, 2003. — 432 с. — Серия «Слово о сущем». — ISBN 5-02-026854-2.

Published posthumously:

• Витгенштейн. Смена аспекта. — М.: Институт философии, теологии и истории св. Фомы, 2005. — 576 с. — Серия «Bibliotheca Ignatiana». — ISBN 5-94242-011-4.
• Алексей Федорович Лосев. Сергей Сергеевич Аверинцев. — М.: Институт философии, теологии и истории св. Фомы, 2006. — 416 с. — Серия «Bibliotheca Ignatiana». — ISBN 5-94242-027-0.

• Введение в философию права. М. ИФ РАН, 2005. — 345 с. — ISBN 5-9540-0036-0.

2-е изд., исправл. и дополн.: М.: Университет Дмитрия Пожарского, 2013. — 584 с. — ISBN 978-5-91244-032-8.

• Внутренняя форма слова. — М.: Наука, 2008. — 432 с. — Серия «Слово о сущем». — ISBN 978-5-02-026316-1.
• Грамматика поэзии. — СПб.: Издательство Ивана Лимбаха, 2009. — 592 с. — ISBN 978-5-89059-115-9.
• Дневники Льва Толстого. — СПб.:Издательство Ивана Лимбаха, 2012. — 480 с. — ISBN 978-5-89059-184-5.
• Ранний Хайдеггер. Материалы к семинару. — М.: Институт философии, теологии и истории св. Фомы, 2009. — 536 с. — Серия «Bibliotheca Ignatiana». — ISBN 978-5-94242-047-5.
• Чтение философии. — СПб.: Наука, 2009. — 536 с. — Серия «Слово о сущем». — ISBN 978-5-02-026339-0.
• Энергия. — М.: Институт философии, теологии и истории св. Фомы, 2010.
• Собственность. Философия своего. — СПб.: Наука, 2012. — 536 с. ISBN 978-5-02-037126-2.
• История современной философии. СПб.: Вл. Даль, 2014. 398 с. ISBN 978-5-93615-138-5.
• Пора (время-бытие). СПб.: Вл. Даль, 2015. 367 с. ISBN 978-5-93615-143-9.

Author's courses

There is a list of author's courses lectured by Bibikhin in 1989-2004

• Мир (1989, МГУ).
• Язык философии (1989, ИФ РАН)
• Внутренняя форма слова (1989—1990, МГУ)
• Узнай себя (1989—1990, МГУ)
• Ранний Хайдеггер (1990—1992, МГУ)
• Энергия (1991—1992, МГУ); (2002, Свято-Филаретовский Богословский Институт)
• Первая философия («Чтение философии») (1991—1992, МГУ)
• Новое русское слово (1992, МГУ)
• Лейбниц («Всеобщая наука») (1992, МГУ).
• Лицо Средневековья: подходы к изучению эпохи (1992, МГУ).
• Ренессанс: образ и место Возрождения в истории культуры (1992, МГУ)
• Собственность (философия своего) (1993—1994, МГУ).
• Витгенштейн (1994—1995, МГУ; 2003, МГУ)
• Пора (время-бытие) (1995—1996, МГУ)
• Начала христианства (1996—1997, МГУ)
• Лес (hyle) (1997—1998, МГУ)
• Правда (онтологические основания этики) (1998—1999, МГУ)
• Грамматика поэзии (2000, МГУ)
• Дневники Льва Толстого (2000—2001 МГУ)
• Философия права (2001—2002, МГУ, ИФ РАН)
• История современной философии (2002—2003, ИФТИ св. Фомы)
• Хайдеггер 1936—1944 гг. (2004, ИФ РАН)

Further reading

• Ахутин А. В. Памяти В. В. Бибихина // Вопросы философии. — 2005. — № 4. — С. 113.
• Ахутин А. В., Магун А. В., Хоружий С. С. Философское наследие Владимира Вениаминовича Бибихина: (обзор международной научной конференции) // Вопросы философии. — 2014. — № 9. — С. 175—181.
• Неретина С. С. Прозрения одиночки: Бибихин-Витгенштейн // Философские одиночества. — М.: ИФРАН, 2008. — С. 310—336.
• Михайловский А. В. Памяти Владимира Вениаминовича Бибихина // Вестник Московского университета. Сер. 7, Философия. — 2005. — № 2. — С. 120—121.
• Хоружий С. С. Памяти В. В. Бибихина // Вопросы философии. — 2005. — № 4. — С. 112—113.

External links

• С.Костырко. "Журнальный зал: Владимир Бибихин". Magazines.russ.ru. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
• Сайт, посвященный В. В. Бибихину
• В. В. Бибихин. «Мир»
• В. В. Бибихин. «Узнай себя»
• В. В. Бибихин."Другое начало"
• В. В. Бибихин. «Добро, истина и несуществование у Владимира Соловьева»
• В. В. Бибихин. «Слово и событие»
• В. В. Бибихин. «Слово Розанова»
• В. В. Бибихин. «Ницше в поле европейской мысли»
• В. В. Бибихин. «На подступах к Ницше»
• В. В. Бибихин. «Витгенштейн и Хайдеггер. Один эпизод»
• В. В. Бибихин. «Петрарка и Палама»