prominent Russian theorist of narodism, philosopher, publicist, revolutionary and sociologist
1823 CE
to 1900 CE
Pyotr Lavrovich Lavrov (alias Mirtov ); (June 2 (June 14 N.S.), 1823 – January 25 (February 6 N.S.), 1900) is a prominent Russian theorist of narodism, philosopher, publicist, revolutionary and sociologist.
He enters a military academy and graduates in 1842 as an army officer.
He becomes well-versed in natural science, history, logic, philosophy, and psychology.
He also becomes an instructor in mathematics for two decades.
Lavrov joins the revolutionary movement as a radical in 1862.
His actions lead to his being exiled in 1868 to the Ural Mountains, from which he soon escapes and flees abroad.
In France, he lives mostly in Paris, where he becomes a member of the Anthropological Society.
Lavrov is attracted to European socialist ideas from early on, though at first he does not know how they apply to Russia.
While he is in Paris, Lavrov fully commits himself to the revolutionary socialist movement.
He becomes a member of the Ternes section of the International Workingmen's Association in 1870.
He is also present at the start of the Paris Commune, and soon goes abroad to generate international support.
Lavrov arrives in Zürich in November 1872, and becomes a rival of Mikhail Bakunin's in the "Russian Colony"
In Zürich he lives in the Frauenfeld house near the university.
Lavrov tends more toward reform than revolution, or at least sees reform as salutary.
He preached against the conspiratorial ideology of Peter Tkachev and others like him.
Lavrov believes that while a coup d'état will be easy in Russia, the creation of a socialist society needs to involve the Russian masses
He founds the journal Forward! in 1872, its first issue appearing in August 1873
Lavrov uses this journal to publicize his analysis of Russia's peculiar historical development.
Lavrov is a prolific writer for more than forty years.
His works include The Hegelian Philosophy (1858–59) and Studies in the Problems of Practical Philosophy (1860).
While living in exile, he edits his Socialist review, Forward!.
A contribution to the revolutionary cause, Historical Letters (1870) is written under the pseudonym Mirtov.
The letters greatly influence the revolutionary activity in Russia.
He is called "Peter Lawroff" in Die Neue Zeit (1899–1900) by K. Tarassoff.
