The monograph examines one of the most important concepts of Russian and world culture - "life," establishes the main traditions that contributed to its actualization in the 19th century (biblical tradition, romanticism, German literature and classical philosophy). On the material of the work of domestic writers and critics, the semantic shades of this concept are analyzed, the main lines in its interpretation are outlined. The central place in the work is occupied by the question of the importance of the concepts of "life" and "living life" for understanding the art world and the views of F.M. Dostoevsky. The publication is addressed to researchers of the history of Russian literature of the XIX century and Dostoevsky's work, linguists, philosophers, culturologists, teachers of higher and secondary schools, students.