When therefore the question is mooted, which rules are higher, those of individual morality or those of social conduct, Mihailovskii shows (Letters Concerning Truth and Untruth, 1878) how the customary political programs may lead indeed to results, but not to sound and just results. It seems to him, therefore, that the conscience is the only ultimate court of appeal. He refers to the fortunate circumstances in which there may be no conflict between individual and social ideals, but being well aware that these are no more than fortunate (i.e. exceptional) circumstances, we must continually reiterate the moral demand to remain faithful under all circumstances to truth and justice.
Let us now examine Mihailovskii's own political conduct. We may recall that he began to come to the front in the literary world during the carly seventies, at the time when the far-reaching and widely diffused literary movement was in progress, paving the way for and organising the practical movement "towards the people." His writings during this first phase afforded sufficient proof of his socialist views. In 1873, Lavrov invited him to collaborate upon "Vpered." Mihailovskii hesitated for a time whether he should not leave Russia for good, and make common cause with Lavrov; but in the end he became convinced that, as he expressed it, he was no revolutionary, and was indeed more afraid of the revolution than of the reaction. His political credo at that time was, "Sit quiet and make ready." Mihailovskii was a Lavrovist in that he accepted Lavrov's propagandism, whilst his refusal to work with Lavrov shows that he had formed a just estimate of Lavrov's incapacity for leadership.
Mihailovskii's views were still apolitical. This is most plainly shown in his criticism of Dostoevskii's The Devils, published in the year we are considering (1873). Mihailovskii therein declares that he desires political freedom, "but if all the rights associated with this freedom are to be for us nothing more than a pretty and sweet-smelling flower, these rights and this freedom are things we can dispense with! Away with them when not merely do they fail to provide for us the possibility of paying our debts, but when they even contribute to swelling the total of these debts!" At a later date (1886), Mihailovskii declared that these words were too emphatic, but it would seem that his views concerning the utility of politics had undergone a change.
