Butashevich-Petrashevsky Mikhail Vasilyevich (1821 – 1866) – Russian utopian socialists (Fourierist), chap Petrashevists. The son of a well-known in his time surgeon, petty nobleman, Butashevich-Petrashevsky studied at the Alexander Tsarskoe Selo Lyceum and there is often sharp and clashes with the authorities earned a reputation as a maverick. Probably for the "stubborn nature and the liberal mindset" B.-P. in the issuance of the Lyceum (1839) has, despite good progress, rank last (14 th) grade.
Limited material resources made B.-P. to enlist, a translator at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: was his duty to assist foreigners in their dealings with the St. Petersburg police. Not satisfied with surface knowledge handed down from Lycée B.-P. did volunteer at the Faculty of St. Petersburg University and in 1841 he graduated brilliantly.
The University at B.-P. (And his friends, the future "Petrashevists – Hanykova, Debu 2 nd, P. Lamansky) is very much influenced by the professional economics and statistics VS Poroshin sympathetically expounded in his lectures socialist doctrines, especially the social system of the Fourier . A number of life's failures, along with the book influences, bad attitude of parents and moral loneliness, led B.-P. a severe spiritual crisis, which nearly ended by suicide and to identify further his career. "Not finding anything worthy of his affection – neither of the women nor the men – wrote then B.-P. – I resigned himself to the service of humanity, and striving for the common good to replace in my selfishness and a sense of samohraneniya, respect for the truth suppressed in me all the flash of pride. " On the intellectual work done by then B.-P., evidenced by his notes – "My aphorisms, or fragmentary notion of my everything, my own generated. These "aphorisms" B.-P. in favor of a federal (on the principle of nationality) organization of the state, a republican form of government with elected officials, we do not need huge army for the war could not occur under the federal structure of the States; B.-P. thinking about public education, the situation of factory workers and agricultural workers, of Poland, the situation of women, etc. Shortly after graduation B.-P. planned a publication of the magazine and throws it interesting topic articles, calling the synopsis – "Cruising generally useful" (1842-43) for the first time found expression Fourierism B.-P. These themes: "Essay state of Russia as a state, ie, a random human forms of association", "On the system of mutual assistance", "On the principles of wealth distribution or dividend between manufacturers", etc. Some topics related to religious matters , right. B.-P. interested also. x-PTO.
In 1843 began to develop the question of the emancipation of the peasants. In 1844, B.-P. tried to take the place of a teacher of jurisprudence at the Alexander Lyceum, but was refused. Then for the first time drew my attention to it and the police traced to lyceum and its harmful effects on them "to skeptical thoughts on the subject of faith and the existing public order, ostensibly inconsistent with the well being of people." For the "talkers" B.-P. was a massacre carried out secret surveillance, but shot in two months. In service B.-P. engaged in walking for the Senate (the so-called legal profession), mainly for the poor, a practice certainly no benefit to him no good. By that time B.-P. formed a circle of acquaintances, finally became clear and vital goal – promotion of socialism (ie Fourierism). Warmly carried away by social issues, Butashevich-Petrashevsky their personal interests and personal life posed by the wayside.
Having made a good library, he is very well read, a great connoisseur of French socialist literature, B.-P. willingly gave the book to read and acquaintances and even just wishing constantly arguing about the social systems, leading many to become interested in them. With the same aim of promoting socialism B.-P. took an active part as an editor and chief officer in the work on the second issue of "Pocket Dictionary of Foreign Words", ed. AN Kirillov. The guise of this dictionary was intended to spread socialist doctrines in broad reading public. After the confiscation and burning of the "Dictionary" B.-P.decided before the age of 30 do not print "nothing major" and "preferred to all in his head to put in order." With the same aim of promoting socialism B.-P. within 4 years (1845-1848) systematically arranged in her house meetings on Fridays. They gathered 20-30 people. And after the report of one of the attendees were discussing the socialist theory, scientific, social and political issues. Sam B.-P. spoke there of Fourierism, on vowel and public trial, the abolition of serfdom. Typical Utopian B.-P. firmly believed in the power of reason and understanding the profound contradictions between the ideals of socialism and serfdom in Russia, put the task of socialists in Russia "work the application of general principles which science has developed in the West (ie, Fourier theory) to our reality." However B.-P. not trying to find a foothold in the objective conditions and all hopes on propaganda, remaining similar to the Fourier peaceful "socialist. B.-P. so deeply believed in the benefits phalanstery that made in 1847 an attempt to apply the ideal Fourier in his estate. This attempt ended in failure – but in a note submitted to the commission of inquiry, B.-P. indicates that in 5-6 years, Fourier's doctrine can be realized.
In February 1848 B.-P. filed in the St. Petersburg nobility assembly note an increase in the value of noble estates, in which he proposed to give merchants the right to buy estates of the nobility with the personal with the emancipation of the peasants of these estates, to establish active in rural lending institutions, agricultural banks, lower% of mortgage of estates in the treasury to establish credit, improve the forms proceedings and to establish oversight of the administration. Thus in the "real" policy B.-P. was a radical, sometimes even liberal, recommending reforms to begin the conversion court, pushing the abolition of serfdom. The note was the effect of establishing surveillance B.-P. Surveillance is all the easier to implement that B.-P., wholly given to the promotion of socialism, never missed a chance to meet a new person to talk to him, inviting him to her on Friday, he was ready to spend time on every passerby. To monitor B.-P. to him was sent to a former student Antonelli, who crept into the trust B.-P. and thoroughly inform the Ministry of Internal Affairs on plans and projects B.-P.
After 13 months of observation was completed, and in the night 22/23 April 1849 B.-P. together with the rest of his group was arrested, imprisoned in Alekseevskii Ravelin and tried. During the investigation B.-P. initially did not want to answer, considering his actions certainly legal. Convinced of the seriousness of the charges B.-P. fell asleep investigation. commission of a diverse array of briefs, sharply criticized the investigative procedure by requiring the appointment of a scientific commission to parse the teachings Fourier; provided a comprehensive summary of Fourierism etc.
In the last period of detention Butashevich-Petrashevsky was ill and emotionally upset, overcome by despair and helplessness. Condemned the military-commission ship to be shot, B.-P. 22/XII 1849 was placed in Semyonovsky Square, where she was declared "supreme mercy": the shooting was replaced by Nicholas I in perpetual imprisonment. Straight from the place of execution B.-P. in shackles was sent to Tobolsk, and thence to Shilkinsky plant Nerchinsk District.
In 1856, B.-P. went into exile and lived in Irkutsk, engaging lessons, walking for and cooperation in the local press (in the gas. "Irkutsk. lips. Vedas." and "Amour", released in Blagoveshche
nsk). B.-P. in Siberia has remained the same "troubled man", as before. Not recognizing the legitimate their condemnation B.-P. before entering the village filed a request to the Senate, Ministry of the Interior, the royal name, demanding revision of the sentence. On this basis there have been numerous conflicts with local authorities, B.-P. more than once expelled from place to place, he died in a. Belsky, Yenisei district (now Krasnoyarsk Terr.).
Lit.: Semevskii VI, MV Butashevich-Petrashevsky and Petrashevists, MA, 1922; Lakina V., Petrashevsky, M., 1924 (extensive bibliography); Petrashevsky, Sat. Materials, Ed. PE Schegoleva Moscow, 1926-27 (2 vols.; In I t. – Memoirs contemporaries in II is – art. Art. Butashevicha Petrashevsky-out "words. Inostr. Words", "Note on augmenting . the value of the nobility. or inhabited. estates, "" The explanation that is socialism, "" Indications MV Butashevicha-Petrashevsky and Bazhenov et al.