The understanding of history and, first of all Russian history, is always considered as a test for defining the status and position of any philosopher in Russia. Gustav Shpet (1879-1937), one of the most important Russian philosophers of the 20th century, was also a linguist, historian, psychologist, ethnologist, and literary critic. He spent the last two years of his life (1935-1937) in exile in Siberia. This book, his doctoral thesis (1916), is published in a new composition based on Shpet"s personal copy with his marginalia and provided with extensive comments. (0.805 kg.)