1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:06,440 Fyodor Dostoevsky was a 19th century novelist and philosopher, considered by many to be 2 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:10,390 one of the most influential authors in all of world literature. 3 00:00:10,390 --> 00:00:17,330 Born and raised in Tsarist Russia, Dostoevsky was heavily exposed to the misery and injustice 4 00:00:17,330 --> 00:00:19,840 characteristic of his time. 5 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:25,620 Among his more marking experiences, he spent four years in a Siberian labour camp, went 6 00:00:25,620 --> 00:00:30,560 through compulsory military service in exile, and had to beg for money while in Western 7 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:33,660 Europe due to his gambling addiction. 8 00:00:33,660 --> 00:00:39,280 And yet, despite his first-hand experience of misery and suffering, Dostoevsky remained 9 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:41,920 hopeful and optimistic about what life is. 10 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:48,780 He is considered to be one of the first writers to incorporate concepts of what we now know 11 00:00:48,780 --> 00:00:50,539 as existentialism. 12 00:00:50,539 --> 00:00:56,199 Dostoevsky’s works revolve around a few major themes like the meaning of life, the 13 00:00:56,199 --> 00:01:01,910 constancy of suffering, the divide between rationality and emotion, spirituality, and 14 00:01:01,910 --> 00:01:04,799 the various sides of the human condition. 15 00:01:04,799 --> 00:01:10,600 Some of his well known novels and essays are Crime and Punishment, The Brothers Karamazov, 16 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:14,850 The Idiot, and Notes from the Underground. 17 00:01:14,850 --> 00:01:20,350 Through his novels and essays, Dostoevsky tried to make sense of the suffering and misery 18 00:01:20,350 --> 00:01:26,939 around him, attempting to find meaning and hope even in the bleakest of times. 19 00:01:26,939 --> 00:01:31,840 His work represents a deep dive into human suffering, the evil surrounding us, and the 20 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:37,299 problems caused by moral corruption and in each of the universes he created, he gave 21 00:01:37,299 --> 00:01:42,960 ways to escape the apparent constant suffering and torment of his characters through moral 22 00:01:42,960 --> 00:01:48,040 virtue, love, compassion, and one’s own sense of meaning. 23 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:53,450 His writings were heavily influential for the existentialist current of philosophy, 24 00:01:53,450 --> 00:01:58,170 representing sources of inspiration for other consecrated authors like Friedrich Nietzsche 25 00:01:58,170 --> 00:02:00,270 and Jean-Paul Sartre. 26 00:02:00,270 --> 00:02:06,010 Which is why in this video, we’ll cover the 10 most important life lessons from Dostoevsky, 27 00:02:06,010 --> 00:02:13,150 as well as how we can think of and implement them in today’s world. 28 00:02:13,150 --> 00:02:21,410 Excessive self-pride leads to isolation Dostoevsky says “Immense pride is not a 29 00:02:21,410 --> 00:02:23,919 sign of dignity”. 30 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:30,360 In his literary masterpiece, Crime and Punishment, Dostoevsky paints the portrait of his main 31 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:35,940 character, Rodion Raskolnikov, as a rational and intellectual philosophy student who believes 32 00:02:35,940 --> 00:02:40,180 he is above the rest of his peers due to his mental prowess. 33 00:02:40,180 --> 00:02:45,180 This excessive self-pride stops him from making meaningful connections with others, loving, 34 00:02:45,180 --> 00:02:47,040 or speaking of his emotions. 35 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:51,830 He believes that he is destined for greater things and that engaging with those less knowledgeable 36 00:02:51,830 --> 00:02:53,760 is a waste of time. 37 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:58,830 As a result, this prompted Raskolnikov to murder an elderly moneylender, as he thought 38 00:02:58,830 --> 00:03:04,340 of her as nothing but a parasite for society, and that his moral virtue should permit him 39 00:03:04,340 --> 00:03:07,069 to commit the act rightfully. 40 00:03:07,069 --> 00:03:10,959 Dostoevsky is highly critical of his character’s attitude. 41 00:03:10,959 --> 00:03:17,290 He believes that this kind of toxic self-consciousness stops one from enjoying the beauty of compassion, 42 00:03:17,290 --> 00:03:18,920 empathy, and love. 43 00:03:18,920 --> 00:03:24,879 But, as Raskolnikov’s evolution throughout the novel shows, not all intellectuals are 44 00:03:24,879 --> 00:03:26,989 doomed to become isolated. 45 00:03:26,989 --> 00:03:33,939 Rather, by finding joy through compassion, helping others, and, ultimately, love, Raskolnikov 46 00:03:33,939 --> 00:03:39,840 was able to override his moral compass and discover beauty in connection. 47 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:44,920 Although his repentance for his crime still came, his development portrays him as a different 48 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:48,190 person than at the beginning of the novel. 49 00:03:48,190 --> 00:03:54,000 Choosing whether your self-pride will isolate you from the rest is entirely up to you. 50 00:03:54,000 --> 00:04:00,100 Thus, Dostoevsky believes that the intellectual whose pride isolates them from society is 51 00:04:00,100 --> 00:04:05,430 destined to live in misery and sorrow as a result of their own doing. 52 00:04:05,430 --> 00:04:09,360 On the other hand, the one who accepts the differences of their peers and still makes 53 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:14,540 meaningful connections can revel in both love and knowledge at the same time. 54 00:04:14,540 --> 00:04:20,829 In our daily lives, we can apply this insight from Crime and Punishment by seeing knowledge 55 00:04:20,829 --> 00:04:23,150 as a tool. 56 00:04:23,150 --> 00:04:29,509 Instead of discrediting others as less knowledgeable, we can strive to teach them what we know. 57 00:04:29,509 --> 00:04:34,090 Instead of thinking of them as less intelligent than us, we can look for something they know 58 00:04:34,090 --> 00:04:36,190 that we do not. 59 00:04:36,190 --> 00:04:41,660 Lastly, we should not take pride in our wealth and status as superior to that of others, 60 00:04:41,660 --> 00:04:47,520 but rather to accept that a person’s value cannot be determined by this kind of criteria. 61 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:53,770 Dostoevsky’s bottom line is that rationality alone does not decide the worth of a person, 62 00:04:53,770 --> 00:04:59,180 and that compassion and love are much more important in guiding our social lives. 63 00:04:59,180 --> 00:05:04,600 In the end, we are all humans, and we should all treat each other with respect and empathy, 64 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:09,820 and not think of others as lesser than us. 65 00:05:09,820 --> 00:05:14,650 Be better for yourself, not for other people 66 00:05:14,650 --> 00:05:20,930 According to Dostoevsky; “To go wrong in one’s own way is better than to go right 67 00:05:20,930 --> 00:05:23,120 in someone else’s”. 68 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:29,050 Along with Raskolnikov’s isolation, Dostoevsky also critiques the character’s motivation 69 00:05:29,050 --> 00:05:30,990 for attaining knowledge. 70 00:05:30,990 --> 00:05:35,900 Raskolnikov strives to be better than the rest of the world so that he can look down 71 00:05:35,900 --> 00:05:38,660 on it with a sense of superiority. 72 00:05:38,660 --> 00:05:43,520 He wants to be great because great people are admired, and because he thinks others 73 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:46,270 will regard him highly if he does. 74 00:05:46,270 --> 00:05:51,840 Raskolnikov’s attitude is highly superficial and materialistic, although he is not aware 75 00:05:51,840 --> 00:05:54,539 of this until the latter part of the novel. 76 00:05:54,539 --> 00:06:00,310 Dostoevsky is highly critical of this attitude, as his view on self-growth is centered around 77 00:06:00,310 --> 00:06:05,130 developing one’s self for one’s own happiness and discovery of life. 78 00:06:05,130 --> 00:06:10,660 Friedrich Nietzsche, drawing inspiration from Dostoevsky’s work, developed this critique 79 00:06:10,660 --> 00:06:13,810 into his concept of the Ubermensch. 80 00:06:13,810 --> 00:06:20,289 Nietzsche believed that greatness is virtuous because it allows one to experience, understand, 81 00:06:20,289 --> 00:06:22,630 and express more of life. 82 00:06:22,630 --> 00:06:28,419 He saw the pursuit of knowledge as a personal journey that one should take only if one intrinsically 83 00:06:28,419 --> 00:06:32,180 wants to, not as social status. 84 00:06:32,180 --> 00:06:38,240 While the former is limited in scope, the latter has no bounds. 85 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:45,091 For us, Dostoevsky’s lesson is to not better ourselves because others want us to, but because 86 00:06:45,091 --> 00:06:47,039 we do. 87 00:06:47,039 --> 00:06:52,000 Becoming better to please others, or to be more highly regarded, means giving up your 88 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:54,940 freedom for the will of others. 89 00:06:54,940 --> 00:07:01,190 Thus, we should never let social status, pride, or the pleasure of flattery drive our desire 90 00:07:01,190 --> 00:07:03,410 to know and be more. 91 00:07:03,410 --> 00:07:09,310 That, as Raskolnikov later learned, must solely come from within. 92 00:07:09,310 --> 00:07:14,720 One way to accomplish this would be to look inward for what our goals in life are, and 93 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:17,930 then decide what we need to do to get there. 94 00:07:17,930 --> 00:07:22,729 Planning our self-growth according to what we want lets us disregard what others think 95 00:07:22,729 --> 00:07:24,760 as a significant factor. 96 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:30,169 The opposite would be to look outward for our goals, say, to simply mimic what others 97 00:07:30,169 --> 00:07:35,120 are doing, and to never consider if it would make us happy. 98 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:41,280 It’s more important to live life, than to think about life 99 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:48,440 To quote Dostoevsky “The wisest of all, in my opinion, is he who can, if only once 100 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:52,220 a month, call himself a fool”. 101 00:07:52,220 --> 00:07:57,440 Dostoevsky carried great respect for intellectualism and knowledgeable people. 102 00:07:57,440 --> 00:08:03,069 Yet, he also believes that rationality can often pull someone out of living in the present 103 00:08:03,069 --> 00:08:06,180 and enjoying the small pleasures in life. 104 00:08:06,180 --> 00:08:10,099 This theme is discussed deeply in The Idiot. 105 00:08:10,099 --> 00:08:16,310 In the novel, Dostoevsky’s main character, Prince Myshkin, is never drowned in overthinking, 106 00:08:16,310 --> 00:08:18,410 despite his wisdom and knowledge. 107 00:08:18,410 --> 00:08:24,720 Rather, he embodies living life with open-hearted simplicity and candour, which prompts the 108 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:29,499 other characters to see him as, well, an idiot. 109 00:08:29,499 --> 00:08:36,219 Dostoevsky contrasts Prince Myshkin’s attitude with that of the aristocratic class of Tsarist 110 00:08:36,219 --> 00:08:37,219 Russia. 111 00:08:37,219 --> 00:08:42,610 While overthinkers often get caught up in political games, Myshkin largely disregards 112 00:08:42,610 --> 00:08:45,709 them as insignificant or senseless. 113 00:08:45,709 --> 00:08:51,821 A similar theme is explored through Raskolnikov’s transformation in Crime and Punishment, when 114 00:08:51,821 --> 00:08:56,610 he learns that embracing all that life has to offer is better than constantly living 115 00:08:56,610 --> 00:08:59,650 in his own mind, with his own ideas. 116 00:08:59,650 --> 00:09:05,680 However, in both novels, Dostoevsky also notes that attempting to live like this when others 117 00:09:05,680 --> 00:09:11,470 do not can often be difficult and can lead to misunderstanding from others. 118 00:09:11,470 --> 00:09:16,829 For us, this lesson is a reminder that our minds have filters that can prevent us from 119 00:09:16,829 --> 00:09:18,399 living in the moment. 120 00:09:18,399 --> 00:09:23,320 The more we stay buried in our thoughts, the less we can experience what the world has 121 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:24,600 to offer. 122 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:30,639 Maybe we have prejudices towards others, preventing us from making meaningful connections, or 123 00:09:30,639 --> 00:09:35,180 maybe we are anxious about what others may think, preventing us from doing what we want. 124 00:09:35,180 --> 00:09:41,320 Either way, we must remember that truly knowledgeable and intellectual people have more in common 125 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:49,650 with simple-minded fools than with prideful, less wise intellectuals. 126 00:09:49,650 --> 00:09:55,029 Emotional intelligence is as insightful as rationality 127 00:09:55,029 --> 00:10:03,720 In the words of Dostoevsky “It takes something more than intelligence to act intelligently”. 128 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:09,820 Going back to Raskolnikov’s evolution, Dostoevsky shows a clear-cut difference between what 129 00:10:09,820 --> 00:10:13,610 feels right and what one thinks is right. 130 00:10:13,610 --> 00:10:18,899 Even though Raskolnikov felt that his planned murder was wrong, he choose to act on his 131 00:10:18,899 --> 00:10:22,410 rationality and carried it out anyway. 132 00:10:22,410 --> 00:10:27,910 However, as he understands in the aftermath of the crime, going against one’s nature 133 00:10:27,910 --> 00:10:35,130 and sense of morality is tormenting and painful, even if one’s reason says otherwise. 134 00:10:35,130 --> 00:10:40,740 Through this illustration, Dostoevsky critiques the arrogance of those who go against their 135 00:10:40,740 --> 00:10:44,720 emotion, or what we may informally know as ‘gut feeling.’ 136 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:51,250 As was the case with Raskolnikov, rationality can often trick us into thinking that emotions 137 00:10:51,250 --> 00:10:55,170 and feelings can be discredited without consequence. 138 00:10:55,170 --> 00:11:00,440 In his case, he murders the elderly pawnbroker because he thinks of her as a parasite that 139 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:06,139 contributes nothing to society, and that the world would be better off without her. 140 00:11:06,139 --> 00:11:12,040 This train of thought contrasts with his emotional reluctance to kill another human being, and 141 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:19,600 the tormenting aftermath of the murder shows that the gut feeling was, in fact, right. 142 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:24,779 Although we may not face dilemmas as cruel as Raskolnikov’s, Dostoevsky’s lesson 143 00:11:24,779 --> 00:11:29,120 reminds us that rationality is not all-knowing. 144 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:34,459 In many situations, we can rationally accept something to be right, but emotionally reject 145 00:11:34,459 --> 00:11:36,800 it or feel bad about it. 146 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:43,240 However, neither rationality nor emotion represents absolute knowledge by any means. 147 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:48,440 While emotional intelligence can be at times more insightful, this does not mean that we 148 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:50,600 should always go with our gut. 149 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:55,839 Sometimes, like when we ride a rollercoaster, our emotions may tell us that it is dangerous 150 00:11:55,839 --> 00:11:59,400 and wrong, but we know that it is not. 151 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:05,200 Therefore, what we should do is to listen to both our rationality and emotion, then 152 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:09,320 decide what the best way forward is that is in balance with both. 153 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:15,209 For example, if we try to pitch an idea to somebody, we may feel scared of rejection 154 00:12:15,209 --> 00:12:16,490 at the beginning. 155 00:12:16,490 --> 00:12:22,199 But it is crucial to first understand why the fear of rejection happens, then to understand 156 00:12:22,199 --> 00:12:26,519 whether the outcome of rejection would truly be something to fear. 157 00:12:26,519 --> 00:12:32,110 If it is, then it’s better to go with your gut, but if not, it’s better just to go 158 00:12:32,110 --> 00:12:35,450 for it. 159 00:12:35,450 --> 00:12:39,079 Love life more than its meaning 160 00:12:39,079 --> 00:12:48,230 Dostoevsky tells us that “Life is everywhere, life is in us ourselves, not outside. 161 00:12:48,230 --> 00:12:55,209 [...] to be a human being among people and to remain one forever, no matter in what circumstances, 162 00:12:55,209 --> 00:13:01,779 not to grow despondent and not to lose heart – that’s what life is all about”. 163 00:13:01,779 --> 00:13:07,500 Due to his involvement with a group of anti-governmental intellectuals and the spread of anti-tsarist 164 00:13:07,500 --> 00:13:12,640 ideas, Dostoevsky was sentenced to death by firing squad. 165 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:17,740 However, he was spared by the Tsar at the last moment and sentenced to four years in 166 00:13:17,740 --> 00:13:19,980 a labor camp instead. 167 00:13:19,980 --> 00:13:24,990 As has become rather clear in his writings, these events have had a profound impact on 168 00:13:24,990 --> 00:13:26,829 his view on life. 169 00:13:26,829 --> 00:13:32,980 To Dostoevsky, living and experiencing life at its fullest, no matter how or where, is 170 00:13:32,980 --> 00:13:37,710 the only kind of meaning one needs to find peace. 171 00:13:37,710 --> 00:13:42,940 His philosophy was tested in a more extreme way during his time in Siberia. 172 00:13:42,940 --> 00:13:48,899 As he mentions in his Notes from the Underground, even such a desolate and miserable existence 173 00:13:48,899 --> 00:13:52,529 did not take away his appeal to live life. 174 00:13:52,529 --> 00:13:57,870 Instead of thinking about how things ought to be, Dostoevsky illustrated that accepting 175 00:13:57,870 --> 00:14:01,760 how things are is much more powerful. 176 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:06,899 Although we are free to decide the meaning of life for ourselves, as existentialist philosophers 177 00:14:06,899 --> 00:14:11,100 have underlined in the past, this does not contradict Dostoevsky. 178 00:14:11,100 --> 00:14:14,130 Rather, it complements it. 179 00:14:14,130 --> 00:14:19,270 Even if we already have an idea of what we want to accomplish in life, we must also remind 180 00:14:19,270 --> 00:14:24,949 ourselves that, despite our goals and aspirations, the most important part of life is living 181 00:14:24,949 --> 00:14:27,070 life itself. 182 00:14:27,070 --> 00:14:32,500 We should not throw our dreams out the window, but rather understand that accepting life 183 00:14:32,500 --> 00:14:37,139 as it is, and trying to make it better are not mutually exclusive. 184 00:14:37,139 --> 00:14:42,710 For example, we can both try to make it big in our careers and also be okay with things 185 00:14:42,710 --> 00:14:44,800 not working in our favor. 186 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:51,300 The idea is to change the focus from accomplishing to trying, while also accepting that outcomes 187 00:14:51,300 --> 00:14:57,600 are often defined by factors outside of our control. 188 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:01,370 Be virtuous and just 189 00:15:01,370 --> 00:15:08,370 Dostoevsky posits that "If he has a conscience he will suffer for his mistake; that will 190 00:15:08,370 --> 00:15:14,020 be his punishment - as well as the prison”. 191 00:15:14,020 --> 00:15:18,770 Perhaps one of the more significant themes in Crime and Punishment is Dostoevsky’s 192 00:15:18,770 --> 00:15:22,389 view on moral corruption and its consequences. 193 00:15:22,389 --> 00:15:28,149 Raskolnikov’s punishment is less about his eight years of penal servitude and more about 194 00:15:28,149 --> 00:15:33,180 the psychological torment that he goes through until his confession. 195 00:15:33,180 --> 00:15:39,180 The broader view is that moral corruption itself goes against human nature and it is 196 00:15:39,180 --> 00:15:44,680 punished through inner torment, regardless of any physical consequences such as prison 197 00:15:44,680 --> 00:15:46,380 or death. 198 00:15:46,380 --> 00:15:51,000 On the other hand, Raskolnikov’s switch to moral virtue in the latter part of the 199 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:56,820 novel is rewarded with peace of mind, composure, and a sense of meaning, which was heavily 200 00:15:56,820 --> 00:15:58,510 absent before. 201 00:15:58,510 --> 00:16:04,240 Lastly, even though we can argue that his confession to his crime had negative consequences, 202 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:10,240 it was, in fact, what allowed him to escape his torment and attain peace at last. 203 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:16,650 Dostoevsky’s lesson for us is that, it’s always better to remain virtuous and just. 204 00:16:16,650 --> 00:16:21,959 If we stray from this path, punishment may not come in a physical manner, but it is most 205 00:16:21,959 --> 00:16:27,060 certain to do so psychologically, or in countless other ways. 206 00:16:27,060 --> 00:16:32,730 They who are virtuous are those who remain unfettered and peaceful even in the direst 207 00:16:32,730 --> 00:16:34,089 of times. 208 00:16:34,089 --> 00:16:40,290 Thus, even if we are certain that an unethical action may remain unpunished or undiscovered, 209 00:16:40,290 --> 00:16:44,709 the inner torment that comes with it may make us miserable regardless. 210 00:16:44,709 --> 00:16:49,350 And if we find ourselves going through moral corruption, such as hurting others in pursuit 211 00:16:49,350 --> 00:16:54,850 of our personal gains, it is crucial to remain aware of the fact that there’s always a 212 00:16:54,850 --> 00:16:57,180 way back to virtue. 213 00:16:57,180 --> 00:17:04,000 It may require courage, determination, and a will to change, but it is possible nevertheless, 214 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:10,100 even for individuals as corrupted as Raskolnikov. 215 00:17:10,100 --> 00:17:14,449 Fight evil with love and compassion 216 00:17:14,449 --> 00:17:21,339 Dostoevsky wrote “I will not and cannot believe that evil is the normal condition 217 00:17:21,339 --> 00:17:23,380 of mankind..” 218 00:17:23,380 --> 00:17:28,601 In Dostoevsky’s documentation of his time spent in the labor camps of Siberia, Notes 219 00:17:28,601 --> 00:17:34,410 from the Underground, he extensively tackles the problem of human nature. 220 00:17:34,410 --> 00:17:40,780 More concretely, he argues that evil is something present in all of us, something that can manifest 221 00:17:40,780 --> 00:17:48,500 through many shapes and forms - addiction, self-torment, pride, ignorance, and the like. 222 00:17:48,500 --> 00:17:54,110 Exposed to the misery caused by human hands in Tsarist Russia, Dostoevsky realizes that 223 00:17:54,110 --> 00:18:01,429 evil is a dormant gene of human nature, awakened when one strays away from moral virtue and, 224 00:18:01,429 --> 00:18:04,120 in his case, God. 225 00:18:04,120 --> 00:18:11,190 As a consequence, the default state of the human condition is, in fact, evil and corruption. 226 00:18:11,190 --> 00:18:17,610 To become, or remain a good person, implies actively suppressing the desire to wrong others, 227 00:18:17,610 --> 00:18:21,800 to be unethical, or to only pursue your own interest. 228 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:28,299 This is why, in Dostoevsky’s corpus, compassion and empathy are often regarded as moral virtues 229 00:18:28,299 --> 00:18:34,419 - because they represent salvation from the evil embedded in the human condition. 230 00:18:34,419 --> 00:18:39,740 What we can extrapolate from this idea is that being good means carrying a constant 231 00:18:39,740 --> 00:18:43,179 fight against our inherent inclination towards evil. 232 00:18:43,179 --> 00:18:49,039 It will always be more difficult to be respectful rather than judgemental, compassionate rather 233 00:18:49,039 --> 00:18:52,660 than ignorant, or loving rather than hateful. 234 00:18:52,660 --> 00:18:57,520 And to remain on the path of moral virtue means to constantly remind ourselves to do 235 00:18:57,520 --> 00:19:04,580 the right thing, and to never let ourselves slip into doing things mindlessly on autopilot. 236 00:19:04,580 --> 00:19:09,850 The more aware we remain of the problem of evil in the human condition, the better our 237 00:19:09,850 --> 00:19:16,799 chances of being different and living life to its fullest. 238 00:19:16,799 --> 00:19:20,830 Moral freedom is no freedom at all 239 00:19:20,830 --> 00:19:28,340 Dostoevsky considers the idea that “If there is no god, everything is permitted”. 240 00:19:28,340 --> 00:19:34,300 Dostoevsky’s novel, The Brothers Karamazov is a fantastic exploration of the role and 241 00:19:34,300 --> 00:19:37,300 philosophy of religion in society. 242 00:19:37,300 --> 00:19:43,169 Among the three brothers, the young skeptic Ivan, opposed to the idea that divinity truly 243 00:19:43,169 --> 00:19:48,809 exists, says that the role of God is rather to establish a basis for moral order. 244 00:19:48,809 --> 00:19:53,881 By holding the belief that a deity exists to punish evil and reward virtue, a person 245 00:19:53,881 --> 00:19:59,500 has an external reason to behave morally and not allow the fundamental evil of the human 246 00:19:59,500 --> 00:20:01,510 condition to take over. 247 00:20:01,510 --> 00:20:06,880 Ivan’s rejection of God was purely logical and rational, leading to inner torment and 248 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:11,220 despair that crippled the character throughout the novel. 249 00:20:11,220 --> 00:20:17,000 The reason for Ivan’s tormenting skepticism is that, in the absence of a divine moral 250 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:23,030 regulation, this external reason disappears and everything is permitted, allowing humans 251 00:20:23,030 --> 00:20:27,159 to take the role of God into their own hands. 252 00:20:27,159 --> 00:20:32,130 Absolute moral freedom leads to ideas and beliefs that can and will take the freedom 253 00:20:32,130 --> 00:20:33,500 of others away. 254 00:20:33,500 --> 00:20:40,409 In order for all to have and enjoy moral freedom, in Dostoevsky’s view a belief such as God 255 00:20:40,409 --> 00:20:44,310 is necessary to keep order and peace. 256 00:20:44,310 --> 00:20:50,299 What we can adopt from this idea is that freedom can never be absolute. 257 00:20:50,299 --> 00:20:55,200 Without limitations or a system to enforce those limitations, the risk of trampling over 258 00:20:55,200 --> 00:21:01,169 the freedom of others, or of descending into moral corruption, is always present. 259 00:21:01,169 --> 00:21:05,900 Although Dostoevsky was a believer until his last moments, the lesson should not be as 260 00:21:05,900 --> 00:21:08,510 rigid as for all to become religious. 261 00:21:08,510 --> 00:21:14,919 Rather, any moral compass like spirituality or philosophy that allows us to both be free 262 00:21:14,919 --> 00:21:19,690 and not be tempted to restrict the freedom of others would be appropriate. 263 00:21:19,690 --> 00:21:25,809 In the end, without good and evil, there can never be virtue, and without virtue, there 264 00:21:25,809 --> 00:21:29,919 can never be meaning. 265 00:21:29,919 --> 00:21:34,419 Compassion and love can break alienation 266 00:21:34,419 --> 00:21:41,850 Dostoevsky believed that “Compassion is the chief law of human existence”. 267 00:21:41,850 --> 00:21:47,100 Although less developed than in The Brothers Karamazov, the theme of absolute moral freedom 268 00:21:47,100 --> 00:21:54,059 is also present in Crime and Punishment through the ideas of Raskolnikov before the murder. 269 00:21:54,059 --> 00:21:59,480 Because he considers himself above most of society, he believes that it is permissible, 270 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:05,380 if not imperative, for him to rid the world of those that do not aid its development. 271 00:22:05,380 --> 00:22:10,669 In the former, Dostoevsky encourages each and every person to define their escape from 272 00:22:10,669 --> 00:22:16,880 alienation, even if they do not identify with organized religion or currents of philosophy. 273 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:23,080 But in the latter, he pushes more toward compassion and love as the solution, finding salvation 274 00:22:23,080 --> 00:22:26,020 the same way Raskolnikov did. 275 00:22:26,020 --> 00:22:31,340 More concretely, even though we are free to define what the meaning of life is, love and 276 00:22:31,340 --> 00:22:37,430 care for others are universally virtuous values in Dostoevsky’s perception. 277 00:22:37,430 --> 00:22:43,420 Alienation, as presented by Raskolnikov’s journey, is not only about not making connections 278 00:22:43,420 --> 00:22:48,070 with others but also about being unable to formulate meaning. 279 00:22:48,070 --> 00:22:54,330 In the absence of regard and compassion for others, Raskolnikov, but also Ivan Karamazov, 280 00:22:54,330 --> 00:22:59,929 were left in a solitary universe of cold reason and nihilism, where nothing other than the 281 00:22:59,929 --> 00:23:01,730 self mattered. 282 00:23:01,730 --> 00:23:07,700 However, by loving and being compassionate, both characters understood that there is more 283 00:23:07,700 --> 00:23:13,480 to life than the self, and it is this expansion of their worldviews that allowed them to find 284 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:16,710 peace and meaning at last. 285 00:23:16,710 --> 00:23:22,309 For us, Dostoevsky’s idea is imperative to build meaningful connections with others 286 00:23:22,309 --> 00:23:26,210 and cherish these connections as much as possible. 287 00:23:26,210 --> 00:23:32,150 In reality, nobody knows why we are here, or what grand purpose there is to life, only 288 00:23:32,150 --> 00:23:34,080 that we are all in the same boat. 289 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:41,520 We are all here together, each searching for our own meaning, and we should value togetherness 290 00:23:41,520 --> 00:23:49,140 and closeness to others as the only certainty we have in an uncertain universe. 291 00:23:49,140 --> 00:23:53,529 Learn to enjoy suffering 292 00:23:53,529 --> 00:24:00,900 In our final quote from Dostoevsky for this video, he says “Pain and suffering are always 293 00:24:00,900 --> 00:24:04,559 inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. 294 00:24:04,559 --> 00:24:10,440 The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on earth”. 295 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:17,160 Dostoevsky’s experience in life has always revolved around misery and suffering. 296 00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:22,510 From his time in Siberia to the tragic evolution of his characters, suffering appears to be 297 00:24:22,510 --> 00:24:25,830 a constant element of his narrative universe. 298 00:24:25,830 --> 00:24:31,320 For this reason, the theme that is most present in all of his works is that suffering is and 299 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:35,539 will always be part of the human experience. 300 00:24:35,539 --> 00:24:39,820 Regardless of whether you are a young philosophy student who commits a murder, a skeptic of 301 00:24:39,820 --> 00:24:45,880 faith in God, or a prisoner in a labour camp, suffering is something that you must confront 302 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:48,240 at one point or another. 303 00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:54,460 And in each work of his, Dostoevsky encourages us to enjoy suffering as part of the experience 304 00:24:54,460 --> 00:24:55,649 of life. 305 00:24:55,649 --> 00:25:01,270 Suffering, through pain, torment, misery, or poverty, is an experience that makes us 306 00:25:01,270 --> 00:25:07,240 feel alive, and which prompts an unknowingly powerful desire to keep on living. 307 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:13,260 His realization, after being spared by the tsar, was that life itself is the meaning 308 00:25:13,260 --> 00:25:19,090 of life, and if this included suffering, then so be it. 309 00:25:19,090 --> 00:25:23,799 After all, without suffering, we could never tell any emotion apart, as there would be 310 00:25:23,799 --> 00:25:26,500 nothing to compare it with. 311 00:25:26,500 --> 00:25:31,210 Without moments of suffering, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy moments of happiness and 312 00:25:31,210 --> 00:25:32,210 peace. 313 00:25:32,210 --> 00:25:35,950 Thus, it is mandatory for us to experience it. 314 00:25:35,950 --> 00:25:42,429 But to enjoy suffering means to enjoy and revel in the complexity of life, with whatever 315 00:25:42,429 --> 00:25:45,340 else it has in store for us. 316 00:25:45,340 --> 00:25:50,240 Suffering is and will be a part of our everyday lives. 317 00:25:50,240 --> 00:25:54,330 Things do not always go according to plan, and we will often find ourselves battling 318 00:25:54,330 --> 00:25:59,640 with feelings such as depression, grief, sorrow, pain, or misery. 319 00:25:59,640 --> 00:26:05,909 For Dostoevsky, this is not a reason to give up on the experience of life, but rather to 320 00:26:05,909 --> 00:26:11,010 rejoice in the fact that we are human enough to experience such feelings. 321 00:26:11,010 --> 00:26:17,820 Moreover, suffering itself gives birth to another, much more powerful sentiment, that 322 00:26:17,820 --> 00:26:19,580 of hope. 323 00:26:19,580 --> 00:26:25,190 We must always hope that suffering will give way to pleasure, that things will get better, 324 00:26:25,190 --> 00:26:29,149 and that pain is only temporary, as is happiness. 325 00:26:29,149 --> 00:26:34,490 To hate suffering means to hate a large part of the human experience, which is the same 326 00:26:34,490 --> 00:26:37,880 as failing to find greater meaning in life. 327 00:26:37,880 --> 00:26:43,220 But if one learns to enjoy suffering and to treat it as just another stepping stone in 328 00:26:43,220 --> 00:26:50,800 their journey, then all shall be well, and all shall be worth it in the end. 329 00:26:50,800 --> 00:26:54,700 If you enjoyed this video, please make sure to check out our full philosophies for life 330 00:26:54,700 --> 00:27:00,049 playlist and for more videos to help you find success and happiness using ancient philosophical 331 00:27:00,049 --> 00:27:02,820 wisdom, don’t forget to subscribe. 332 00:27:02,820 --> 00:27:05,010 Thanks so much for watching.