Kosmists

Kosmism is a philosophical and cultural movement that emerged in Russia in the early 20th century. Its most prominent figure was Nikolai Fyodorovich Fyodorov, a librarian and philosopher whose ideas profoundly influenced a generation of thinkers and artists. At its core, Kosmism posits that humanity faces a series of existential challenges, including death, and that through scientific and technological advancement, these challenges can be overcome.

A central tenet of Kosmism is the concept of the "Great Deed," which refers to the resurrection of all deceased ancestors. Fyodorov believed that humanity's current state of existence, marked by the suffering and mortality of past generations, is incomplete. The Great Deed, facilitated by scientific progress such as space exploration and technological mastery over biological processes, would unify humanity and rectify this cosmic injustice.

Kosmists envisioned a future where humanity would not only conquer death but also expand into the cosmos, colonizing space. This expansion was seen as a way to provide room for the resurrected ancestors and to fulfill humanity's destiny. The movement was not monolithic, and various interpretations and applications of its core ideas emerged. Artists like Kazimir Malevich and writers such as Andrei Platonov were influenced by Kosmist thought, incorporating its themes of cosmic destiny, technological utopianism, and the overcoming of death into their works. While the formal movement faded with the rise of the Soviet Union and its different ideological priorities, Kosmist ideas continued to resonate and re-emerge in various forms of Russian thought and culture.