Who was the main thinker of the late nineteenth century in Russia? Count Leo Tolstoy vs Vladimir Solovyov

At the end of the nineteenth century, Leo Tolstoy and Vladimir Solovyov presented two diametrically opposed modes of thinking and reasoning. The question of which of these two figures emerged as the greatest thinker of the time remains an existential one, with significant ontological, epistemological, and metaphysical implications. This opposition is evident in their differing attitudes towards key topics such as political reality, violence, and morality. While Tolstoy’s philosophical contributions are often underestimated and Solovyov is generally regarded as the “winner” of this intellectual rivalry, this paper seeks to reevaluate Tolstoy’s legacy and his role as a philosopher in the latter half of the nineteenth century.