The Reflection of Thought „in the Mirror of Nature” — Vladimir Nabokov’s Views on Evolution by Natural Selection

Abstract

The philosophical views and religious affiliations of literary authors have long been subjects of extensive research. Vladimir Nabokov stands out as a unique example in this regard. He was arguably the most intriguing scientist among the outstanding writers of his generation (his entomological works gained international recognition) and simultaneously one of the most artistically talented entomologists. Few authors intertwine science and art as seamlessly in the realm of pure formative architecture of the fictional world. In this article, I decided to outline and briefly analyze (a detailed examination of this topic would certainly exceed the scope of a single text) the key assumptions of Nabokov's philosophy regarding the theory of evolution by natural selection and the origins of human consciousness. I examine these aspects based primarily on Nabokov's essays, autobiography and an unpublished excerpt of his novel The Gift, as well as secondary literature on Nabokov by Polish, English, German, and Russian-speaking scholars. I hope that my article will not only interest literary scholars and philosophers but also anyone curious about the creative element of the evolutionary process, the role of broadly understood art in the light of the idea of the struggle for existence and potential connections between literature the exact sciences (which, as a philologist, I can only speculate about).