Видунас и западная философия жизни конца XIX - начала XX вв

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Gyvenimo filosofija; Rytų kultūra; Vakarų gyvenimo filosofiją; Vydūnas (Wilhelm Storost; Vilhelmas Storostas, Storosta); XX a. pradžios filosofija; Eastern culture; Philosophy of life; Philosophy of the beginning of XX century; Vydūnas; Western philosophy of life.

ENVydūnas has been represented in Lithuania as a promoter of culture, fosterer of self-consciousness, theosophist, rethinker of Eastern beliefs, and a writer of Lithuania Minor. In the article, Vydūnas is regarded as a representative of the "philosophy of life" formed in Western Europe at the end of the 19th century. The research material comprises Vydūnas' books - Jaunumas, sveikata, grožė (Youth, Health, Beauty), Gimdymo slėpiniai (The Mystery of Procreation) and Mūsų uždavinys (Our Mission) - embodying topical anthropological and ontological issues. Relevant to the study is the comparative method. Vydūnas' ideas are presented within the context of Western philosophy of life. The perception of the world as image, the eternal circle of life and evolution as asserted by Vydūnas, is related to the field of thought of A. Schopenhauer and H. Bergson. The conception of the movement of cultures and spiritual evolution of the nation can be compared with culturological and historio-philo- sophical considerations made by O. Spengler and O.Y. Gasset. A common feature pertaining to philosophers of life is the perception of Eastern cultures which later became the basis of their thinking. Vydūnas' posture is typical of philosophy of life representatives: free thinking, absence of adherence to philosophical systems, vivid and popular explanation of philosophical ideas, and purposeful practice of life. Among other philosophers of life, Vydūnas is distinguished for his program of human (self-) perfection.