A.F. Losev’s scientific contributions

The correspondence of two prominent classical philologists - A.F. Losev (1893-1988) and his German colleague Bruno Snell (1896-1986) - introduces into scientific circulation for the first time. This correspondence relates to the 1959-1960 years and arose in connection with the publication of the "Lexicon of early Greek epos" ("Lexicon des frühgriechischen Epos"), edited by B. Snell. Printed in German in 1962 Losev's review about the first 3 issues of this "Lexicon" published in Russian also for the first time. A.F. Losev's letters to B. Snell are printed after typewritten originals from the Bavarian state library: Bayerische Staatsbibliothek; Nachlass Bruno Snell/B. Korrespondenz. Signatur: Ana 490. B. IV. Lossew, Alexis. B. Snell's letters to A.F. Losev printed after typewritten originals of personal Losev's archive (copies: Brief von Bruno Snell an Alexis Lossew//Bayerische Staatsbibliothek; Nachlass Bruno Snell/B. Korrespondenz. Signatur: Ana 490. B.II). Translation of Losev's review about "Lexicon of early Greek epos" ("Lexicon des frühgriechischen Epos") is done by publication: Deutsche Literaturzeitung. Jahrgang 83, Heft 2 - Februar 1962. S. 113-117.

The publication of A. F. Losev's (1893-1988) previously unknown abstracts of papers and subsequent discussions illustrates the attitude of the philosopher towards the problems of musical aesthetics during his work at State Academy of Art Sciences (GAKhN) in the 1920s. According to Losev, the task of aesthetics is the description of the logic of aesthetic experience, including using set theory. Concepts of rhythm and meter are modifications of the concept «number», and simultaneously are semantic parallels to the category "symbol". From this point of view, Losev analyzed the collection De musica (1926). Abstracts of paper «Aesthetics and mathematics» printed from Losev's handwritten autograph: The Russian State Archive of Literature and Arts. F. 941. Inv. 12. N6. P. 5-6; and debates on the report printed from handwritten stenogram: The Russian State Archive of Literature and Arts. F. 941. Inv. 12. N6. P. 70-70ff. Abstracts of paper "About Concepts of Rhythm and Meter" printed from Losev's handwritten autograph: The Russian State Archive of Literature and Arts. F. 941. Inv. 5. N10. P. 242-242. Abstracts of paper «About the 2-nd Issue of collection De musica» printed from typewritten minutes of meeting, also including stenogram of discussions: The Russian State Archive of Literature and Arts. F. 941. Inv. 5. N25. P. 8-9.