SOLOVʾEV, VLADIMIR (1853–1900), Russian mystical philosopher. Born in Moscow, Solovʾev was educated at the University of Moscow and the Moscow Theological Academy where, in 1873, his master's thesis, "The Crisis of Western Philosophy," earned him immediate repute. Solovʾev's lifelong concerns were to demonstrate rationally the truth of Christianity and to inspire an activist Christianity that would transform the world. His dedication to the philosophical goal of synthesizing religion, philosophy, science, and art in a comprehensive system that he called "total-unity" (vse-1edinstvo) precluded his ever marrying. He is considered Russia's first systematic philosopher.

Solovʾev conceived of God as an all-inclusive being: that is, as absolute reality, which is progressively united with its creation through the interaction of the Logos and Sophia. The Logos is the word, reason, the active principle of creation. Sophia is the passive principle. More...