Philosophie du pouvoir ou pouvoir de la philosophie : Herzen entre Victor Cousin et Pierre Leroux

Philosophy of power or the power of philosophy : Herzen between Victor Cousin and Pierre Leroux It is an acknowledged fact that Pierre Leroux’s thinking played an important role in the development of Herzen’s ideas. In comparison, the philosophy of Victor Cousin attracted him, but did not have as strong an influence. As an opponent of czarist power, Herzen naturally felt closer to the socialism of P. Leroux than to the eclecticism of Cousin, who was in favour of the Charter of 1814 and a supporter of the Establishment. In the clash between Leroux and Cousin, however, Herzen did not take sides. To him, Leroux’s thinking seemed too weak, unable to represent the real power of philosophy that could be opposed to Cousin and his philosophy of power. It is only in Hegel that he was to discover a philosophy which had the power to liberate.