Alexander N. Aksakov and the domestication of 'scientific spiritualism' in Imperial Russia, 1865-1875.
Annals of science July 1, 2026 Nikolai Krementsov
In Imperial Russia, Alexander N. Aksakov (1832-1903) worked to establish a scientific approach to 'mediumistic phenomena' between 1865 and 1875. He built an international network of like-minded individuals and translated and published works in multiple languages to foster discussions about the intersections of science and spiritualism. In 1874 he founded Psychische Studien, the first journal dedicated to scientific investigations of spiritualist phenomena. Aksakov's efforts both 'domesticated' spiritualism in Russia and 'internationalized' Russian contributions to its development. The particular social and cultural landscape of post-Crimean Russia both helped and hindered his attempts to educate the public and scientists about 'scientific spiritualism'.