In Lev Shestov’s philosophy, the rejection of necessity is a central theme, reflecting his rebellion against the idea that reality is governed by fixed, unchangeable laws - whether they are natural, moral, or logical. Shestov argues that the belief in necessity, deeply embedded in Western philosophy, limits human freedom, denies the possibility of miracles, and ultimately alienates individuals from the existential truths of faith and personal experience.
Here’s what Shestov means by rejecting necessity:
1. Necessity as a Philosophical Construct
Shestov critiques the philosophical tradition (especially thinkers like Spinoza, Hegel, and Kant) for promoting the idea that reality operates according to deterministic or rational laws that are necessary and universal.
Philosophers who embrace necessity claim that things could not be otherwise - that events, actions, and even human existence must follow predefined laws of logic, morality, or nature.
Shestov rejects this view, arguing that necessity is a construct of reason, not an inherent feature of reality. For him, it is a kind of intellectual tyranny that suppresses the possibility of radical freedom and divine intervention.
2. Freedom vs. Necessity
Shestov contrasts necessity with freedom, particularly the freedom found in faith. He insists that true freedom lies in the rejection of the deterministic constraints imposed by reason and philosophy.
He draws on the Biblical God as a model of ultimate freedom - unbound by logic, nature, or necessity. For example, the God who suspends natural laws to part the Red Sea for the Israelites defies the constraints of necessity.
Shestov’s faith-based freedom allows for the impossible to become possible, breaking the chains of deterministic thinking.
3. Necessity as a Barrier to Faith
Shestov sees necessity as the primary obstacle to faith, which he defines as the belief in the power of the impossible - miracles, divine intervention, and the suspension of natural laws.
Philosophers who elevate reason and necessity (e.g., Spinoza’s belief in the “infinite necessity” of God or Hegel’s concept of the rational unfolding of history) diminish the role of faith and reduce God to a predictable, rational force.
In contrast, Shestov celebrates faith as an act of rebellion against the rationalist acceptance of necessity, affirming the possibility that life can transcend the constraints of logic and natural law.
4. The Tyranny of Reason
Shestov critiques reason for its tendency to impose necessity on human thought and experience. Philosophers, in their pursuit of rational systems, attempt to justify suffering, evil, and mortality as necessary parts of a universal order.
For Shestov, this intellectual justification of suffering is not only false but cruel - it denies the individual’s right to rage against their circumstances or hope for divine deliverance.
Rejecting necessity means refusing to accept explanations that justify suffering as inevitable or predetermined. It opens the door to faith as a protest against despair.
5. Biblical Examples of Rejection of Necessity
Shestov often turns to the Bible to illustrate his rejection of necessity. For example:
Abraham’s faith in being willing to sacrifice Isaac defies all moral and rational necessity.
The story of Job represents an individual’s rebellion against the necessity of suffering, refusing to accept it as justified, even in the face of divine silence.
These stories highlight the tension between reason’s insistence on necessity and faith’s embrace of freedom and the miraculous.
6. The Existential Dimension
For Shestov, rejecting necessity is not just a theological or philosophical position but an existential imperative. It means confronting the absurdity of existence - the randomness of suffering, the finality of death - without rationalizing or resigning oneself to them.
This existential rebellion against necessity leads to a leap of faith, where one embraces the possibility of radical transformation and redemption.
7. Critique of Philosophical Justifications
Shestov targets philosophies that attempt to reconcile humans to necessity:
Spinoza: Shestov criticizes Spinoza’s identification of freedom with understanding necessity, arguing that this view eliminates genuine freedom.
Kant: He rejects Kant’s notion of moral necessity, which binds individuals to universal laws.
Hegel: Hegel’s idea that history unfolds according to a rational, necessary process is seen by Shestov as a denial of human freedom and individuality.
Shestov accuses these thinkers of enslaving humanity to the “lawof reason”, which justifies suffering and negates the possibility of miracles.
8. The Call for Radical Freedom
To reject necessity is to affirm a world in which everything is possible, where human beings are not bound by deterministic rules or the rationalizations of philosophers.
This radical freedom is rooted in faith, which opens the door to the miraculous, the inexplicable, and the deeply personal.
Conclusion
For Lev Shestov, rejecting necessity is an act of rebellion against the intellectual and existential constraints imposed by rational philosophy. It is a call to embrace freedom, faith, and the possibility of the miraculous, allowing individuals to transcend the limitations of deterministic thinking and reclaim their existential agency. By rejecting necessity, Shestov affirms a life that is unpredictable, open to divine intervention, and profoundly free - a life that resists being reduced to logical or natural inevitabilities.
