Dostoevsky's Darkest Character | Crime and Punishment
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- čas přidán 27. 06. 2024
- One of the most alluring philosophies on offer is nihilism: the belief that nothing really matters. I cannot count the number of self-professed nihilists I see online. So given the influence of this position, we ought to consider some criticisms of it. And few are as powerful as that given by Dostoevsky.
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00:00 Dostoevsky and Nihilism
01:57 The Allure of Nihilism
06:13 Existential Boredom
10:02 The Dark Side of Radical Freedom
14:22 The Unsustainability of Nihilism
If nothing matters, then it doesn’t matter what matters to me. There is nothing to stop me from saying I care.
Precisely. And a true nihilist wouldn't care one way or the other what you value. Because in their eyes it's meaningless.
if nothing matters, why would you let that fact ruin the fun.
@@juanpauloflores6441
I get what you're saying, but the thing is, why bother with fun? Emotions dont matter, chemicals that are used for the purpose of survival. So why should other distractions?
Its like... We functionally never existed. Didn't exist before we were born, and any and all actions wont matter after were dead. Leaving no trace of our existence.
@@baneofaraarasirdubious5614yes they don't matter, but you still feel them so you can feel them without them mattering knowing it
It does matter. Jesus loves you
Started reading crime and punishment 4 days ago. Can't wait to meet this antagonist. Great video man.
Keep up the good work.
Thank you! I am really glad you are enjoying the videos!
I still have to start reading crime and punishment but i gotta say your channel is gold
I was starting to lose interest in philosophy and then i found your channel....really appreciate the work youre doing
Ah thank you! I am really happy it’s helping your interest in philosophy
What an analysis 🎉
I think no one in history gave such a great analysis about these characters.
You're really a 💎
Keep Teaching us brother 🙏
Thank you so much! I realized I had not quite done Svidrigailov justice in my first video, so I thought I would expand upon the ideas a little bit
@@unsolicitedadvice9198 I am a young highschool student, I have been reading philosophy and saving your videos for later study. Primarily my reading is on figures like Parmenides and Plato, Plotinus, and then mostly mysticists including Meister Ekchart, the Orthodox Theologians, and Sufists such as Ibn-Arabi, followed then by rationalists and idealists like the great Spinoza, Leibniz, Kant (which was my second philosophical awakening after Plato) Fichte, Hegel, Berkley, into figures such Schopenhauer and most significantly the Post-Modernists and Phenomenologists, and Kierkegaard, the man with which I couldn't disagree at all.
I arrived at Deleuze, and at Jean-Luc Marion. As a religious person who feels himself in almost absolute agreement with Nietzsche's drive, and whom hopes still for everyone's greatness, I just want to know what you think of Dostoevsky's intense religiosity, since I am saving these videos for after I am done with Crime and Punishment.
I agree dude. This is just such a nice representation of the character. I didn't expect so much of a deep dive into the character but it came out to be a refreshing revelation. Also the way he made comparisons with different philosophers and their ideologies throughout the video was just cherry on top of the cake.
I searched the whole internet for this video. I just finished reading Crime and Punishment a few weeks ago. Svidrigailov always interested me as a character. Thank you for such an amazing video!!!
Been waiting months for this. Read the book twice now and this is a perfect complimentary piece.
Thank you! It is one of my favorite books
Wake up baby, Unsolicited Advice just dropped a new video.
So glad I found to channel. great work!
🦇🌹Sometimes people think that nihilistic or pessimistic view points are superior to any other but this is entirely false. I think Nietzsche understood that more than most when he moved away from Schopenhauer and began his own path, the sacred "YES" to life.
This is one of the best discussions on nihilism I've had the pleasure of witnessing. Very well done.
Thank you! I really enjoy Dostoevsky’s particular angle on nihilism
People who call themselves nihilists after claiming to have read Nietzsche piss me off because it really defeats the purpose of his writings
@@haramsaddam238 All of those people either never actually read Nietzsche, or never bothered to understand what he was saying. It is extremely ironic to try to hold Nietzsche up as a figurehead for nihilism when the affirmation of life and creation of values are some of the most important parts of his philosophy.
Thank you so much for what you do. Your videos are very engaging and thought-provoking, without being boring and monotonous. Few online Philosophy resources are able to be conscious of their own subjective biases.
Please keep making philosophy accessible to everyone, you are amazing at it
Awesome video, I am glad someone made a video for just 1 character alone of this book. My heart started beating faster when I read his last conversation with Dunya
I must say, your content is excellent. These are the types of subjects on philosophy that inhabit my mind, that are so fun to discuss yet are so difficult to convey to people. I would love a deep dive into the Brothers Karamazov, and specifically the chapters Rebellion + The Grand Inquisitor.
Your videos have been showing up in my recommendations for some time now, and this was excellent, excellent work- even if for some reason or other, I thought it was going to be about Stavrogin from "the Devils."
You do an excellent job of close reading, and I'm looking forward to more.
Thank you! And a few other people have commented that. He is certainly a serious contender. I largely chose Svidrigailov instead because I am planning a big video on "The Devils" in a couple of months, and didn't want to jump the gun by talking about Stavrogin now
2 videos deep, new favourite channel. Thank you for bringing a spotlight to the flaws of Nihilism. It seems I somewhat believed in it, but couldn't actually act it out. Tormenting myself. What's scary is that I didn't even notice it. Now I see my flaws clearly.
Indulging in small wickedness and debauchery against myself.
Truly I have sold myself for nothing.
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I really enjoyed your previous video on this book, I'm glad you made a second part and as always your takes and analysis are wonderful!
Thank you! I wanted to expand a bit on Svidrigailov because he is such a fascinating character
Great video... Keep up the grind brother
I think this video could be really appropriate considering the era we’re livin in. The idea of the allouring beauty of nihilism, and the fear of the suffering related to the values we used to hold onto is part of the reason why nowdays it seems to be much easier (at least apparently) to let go of everything and believe in nothing. Victor Frankl already warned us about that. I think that from you is a truly remarkable act of humanity to try to spread awarness about the dangers of this so actual tendency. And I hope that sharing this idea can help people to cope with the unsettling side of having something to believe in, when things are getting hard.
Highly appreciating your work
Love your videos, and your enthusiasm for the subjet matter. Thank you for sharing your work.
Thank you for watching! I’m glad you enjoyed the video
ur work is incredible please keep it up!!!! u got me into reading tysm much love
Your Crime and Punishment videos are excellent, and I'd really like to hear more about your "Lent" of conforming to a single philosophy!
Thank you! I will no doubt make more as I spot more things to expand upon in the original video that bug me. And I might send an email about it nearer Lent
I just watched couple of your videos today and gained some insights on philosophy. I thought it wasn't much to pay attention to but its certainly very interesting. You've gained a subscriber.
You are definitely helping me improve my life! Thank you ❤
Thank you for watching! I’m glad you are liking the videos
I am so impressed by you! Thank you for your work.
I wonder if Dostoevsky just pulled a Gege and went "man I'm sick of this dude" and killed off Svidrigailov through the power of writing
So Eloquent, I could listen to you speak the whole day and not suffer one ounce of boredom, absolutely love the way you unpack Dostoevsky.
You make such awesome well thought out intellectual videos. Thanks :)
Dude, thank you sooo much for all this knowledge 🙏🏽 I love your videos!
Thank you! I’m really glad
Glad i discovered your channrl. Love your work. Been binge watching
Thank you! I’m glad you are enjoying the videos
Great as always...😊
Thank you! That is very kind
Sincere thanks for your videos. Pls keep up the good works.
Thank you! That's very kind
Your videos always fascinate me! Thank you !
Thank you for watching!
@@unsolicitedadvice9198 it is my pleasure! Happy to support!
Waiting for you to make a video on Buddhist philosophy, will love to see your interpretation of it
Great video!
Thank you for examining this book! I feel like I’m the only person in my area that’s ever read it and I’m obsessed with this book and Dostoeyevsky in general. I have so many thoughts on the protagonist and other major characters. It’s such a perplexing story.
I also wonder about Raskolnikovs intentions and moral compass, he’s a very grey character in general and that’s why I keep coming back to this story specifically. Do you have any thoughts on his motivations? Or the end result of his story?
Excellent essay, thanks
I find it interesting that Dostoevsky chose the name Dunia (or Dunya) fir Sigs love interest. In Arabic, this word means the world. As if to say that you may love the world and try whatever means to achieve it, good or bad, but it will never love you back, and ultimately, leave you broken. It could also suggest that perhaps there is no true selfishness, and that anyone being so is just entrapped by the world and it's pleasures. Most probably Dostoevsky wasn't aware of this, but still something that caught my eye.
Food for thought, without any intention to promote a specific idea or culture.
👏 I needed this video.
Thank you!
The reason why it is so difficult if not impossible to act as a moral nihilist is because whenever we say either "I want, prefer, desire this" or "This is undesirable" we are already imposing moral values onto the world, we are giving it an ought. The only true moral nihilist could only be someone who is without any desires. Desire is not separate from morality but is a quality of moral action. To say something or some act is good is to say we ought to desire this.
Brilliant, as always!
Thank you!
You have an extraordinary talent for speaking about philosophy and literature in an interesting way.
Thank you! That’s very kind of you to say
Another smashing video about one of Crime and Punishment’s most interesting characters!
Thank you!
I love your work.
Thank you!
Wow amazing analysis of the chracter... Keep up the great work!
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it
A marvellously entertaing and erudite presentation! Thank you. 👍🙏
Thank you for watching, and for leaving such a lovely comment!
@@unsolicitedadvice9198 You are most welcome 🙏
Another amazing analysis
Thank you!
A minute and a half has gone by and I already want to buy the damn book 😫
Great analysis,will have to re read it .
Please make a video on "Demons" by Dostoevsky. Kirillov and Stavrogin is a mystery which we will like of you can unravel them
Ah thank you! And I would love to at some point. It is one of my favourites partly because of how surprisingly funny it is
Was a nihilist, almost hit the end of my rope. Turned into an existentialist for my own survival. Can’t lie. That was a bumpy ride.
If nihilism is in accordance with nature then you cannot escape it, if nature is in accordance with God then you cannot escape Him.
Food for thought.
Best of luck.
i just watched the other crime and punishment video you made and i swear i almost fell into nihilism
Well served, sir.
Thank you!
It is really deep and in all kinds wonderful analysis. Greetings and big respect from Russia! I hope you continue do videos. And I hope someday you will find time to make us know your view on Myshkin form the Idiot. For most Russians it is the Idiot that becomes life changing book. (Maybe because C&P is a must read in our school program, and 14-15 years old kids find the book difficult to read and understand only the most simple thoughts in it.) Thank you!
Nice explanation! Can you do a video about L'Étranger by Camus?
It is certainly on my list!
I believe if people really did stop caring what other people think, we all, would be naked but that's a symptom of psychosis. Although I appreciate everything you teach us and make accessible for us, I highly doubt you did that (in public) for a whole day, even. Anyhow, thanks for the information and I will keep on consuming it, I just simply know that as human beings, we all lie. Thanks.
Sounds a bit like Svidrigailov met a similar fate to Kafka's torturer/executioner you discussed, who tried out his own device after learning the person using it was immoral
Please make a video on your experience of believing in religion!!
100 pages of crime and punishment completed. Why does raskolnikov seems so much relatable to myself. (Not the killing part). Is he really a worse, narcissistic, nihilist orjust a normal confused guy who isnt able to decide. Would love to know an answer from you brother
He is definitely relatable! I think he struggles with many of the same sorts of philosophical issues a lot of people do in the secular age, but he takes them very seriously, and so his distress is heightened.
“The least of things with meaning is worth more than the greatest of things without meaning.” Carl Jung.
please make videos about 21century filosophy and literature
I’m curious of your take on “cosmicism” as in H.P Lovecraft’s bibliography. Perhaps the metaphysical notion to nihilism? The horrifying dread of our insignificance in a vast cosmic reef teeming with unimaginable monstrous lifeforms ready to consume any and all consciousness. Although this is not grounded in the mundane world, the analysis of the cosmic dread & madness of Lovecraft’s characters in the face of the sublime instigates such dark poetic musings. ⚛️👁️
Gold.
Thank you!
Wonderful. This guy has bfinished all philosophical no novels in the world 😮
While this video is very well-made and the content is amazing, I think it would be better if you made the subtitles into a whole sentence or speaks slower so people who can't listen to English well can also understand the video without pausing it multiple times.
I'm glad to see a fellow Dostoevsky enjoyer who is excited to share his thoughts about his writings. Do you have any plans to do a video on The Meek One? Its a short story about a pawnbroker who justifies himself after leading his poor wife into nonaliving herself after marrying her out of her poverty and keeping her emotionally distant. Its a great study on self-deception.
I would highly recommend you check out an Orthodox church this year for Lent. I discovered Orthodoxy during Lent and it was beautiful. I've been baptized almost 2 years now. As St. Vladimir the Great's emissaries said after visiting Constantinople, we didn't know if we were in heaven or on earth. We have a 4 week pre-Lenten period starting February 25 and Forgiveness Sunday, the day before Lent, is March 17. If you don't have one near you I'd recommend at least trying to visit for Pascha on May 5 and maybe Holy Friday and Saturday if you can make it. We have our most beaitiful services then and the joyful sorrow of Lent brings in the vibrant joy of Pascha. There is no feast like Pascha.
There’s so much to take from Crime and Punishment, your vids have helped me glean some potential meaning Dostoevsky was placing in the book. Also I had a nightmare about Svidrigailov, wasn’t fun haha.
Ah I’m glad you are finding them helpful. And I’ve had my own Svidrigailov nightmares. He’s quite the terrifying character
Great video, although I think Nikolai Stavrogin has to be the darkest Dostoevsky's character.
As someone who was a nihilist without even knowing what nihilism is at 12, I have to say that I highly dont recommend looking at this philosophy on a bad mental health. As there are the sanes and the extremes of it
I seen Svidrigailov as malignant narcissist that hates himself and believes he is wretched and acts to confirm it all his life. Then he falls in love and it creates dissonance in him and he can't take it, for he knows he is wretched and think unworthy of love, which he hides with the hedonism even from himself. Then after last encounter with Raskolnikov sister he couldn't do the last evil deed to confirm to himself he is a monster and instead left her be and gave her all he had. He couldn't take the dissonance and knew love is lost. And he killed himself. It was split that killed him. I am that which wishes good but can do only evil. Lots of cynics and nihilist are pretending they don't care for depth because they are inside afraid of not being able to have it or not worthy to deserve it. And also I don't think it was confirmed in book he killed his wife, not sure though I read it few years ago
Yes i agree. I think he confssed to killing his wife to Raskolnikov but im not sure
Thank you
Thank you for watching
Great video and analysis! I've never been able to get into Russian writers. But after going to Russia for a few weeks and interacting with many Russians, I'd say that there's a reason that Russian writers are so...... Russian.
Thank you! And I would love to visit Russia at some point, I’m currently (very slowly) learning the language
I'm going to be doing this on my website myself, but would you be willing to have a list somewhere of the collection of the resources you've covered or planned to cover? Even if you don't cover it, having am available list of books, channels, resources, and where they can be found in my opinion would increase the chances one actually takes it apon themselves to do their own research. I personally might enjoy absorbing the psychology straight from the source, but with so many things grabbing my attention all the time, I don't want to go through the process of researching where to find all these different philosophers views. I'd like it to be easy. I work, I'm a student, I'm the primary responsible adult in my household, I self care, and I work towards my creative aspirations. I put in a lot of effort in a lot of ways all throughout the day, and scheduling research time is boring, and would probably be taken out of self care time/ or sleep. This is just a request, you are your own person, but if you did do this, you'd significantly help out an individual, with the potentially of helping other individuals who might also like a philosophy resource list. Thanks for reading, cuz I know (highly suspect) your the type
Ah yeah this is a really good idea! I’ll see if I can get a list together. My folders are a bit disorganized, but I can put together some key texts or something and put it up somewhere (not sure where, maybe a link in the “about” part of my CZcams page)
@@unsolicitedadvice9198 I appreciate the validation. I vibe with the disorganization, it's taken me a long while to get my version of the list set up and organized just the way I like it, but once it's made available, I think it'll help more people than just me. For every recommendation I put a two sentence description, half logical half emotional. You do it however your gonna, that's just what I'm working on
He was living the life of a demon without even knowing. Tragic.
3:12’You’re right !
What do you think about the "optimistic nihilism" suggested by Kurzgesagt?
It puts you into a state where nothing matters in a good way. You truly don't give a shit about anything and you're just happy as fuck as a result, because nothing matters. Nothing matters, nothing means anything, there's nothing to do, there's no point, there's no goal but there's also no boredom, there's no negative meanings attached to the meaninglessness, it's just perfectly meaningless and it's awesome. You're basically just like sitting like a cat on a windowsill enjoying whatever experience is before it, just being and it feels amazing. 🦄
I had to put it down after the dream sequence. Couldn't pick it up again.
That is a grim sequence, to be fair
The audio book version is free on CZcams.
In life there are distinctly 3 kinds of people. 2 beings of extremes: Those who Love &nd Those who Hate. Then there is the Middling. Those who in Being: Who Hate &nd Love mutually &nd simultaneously. People often arrive in the Middling some where.
It is difficult to near impossible to be of the extremes in their fullest encompassing. Human Beings most often cannot stay at the far poles always nor completely. This is do to human beings being of The Middling sort. A Balancing of Will or of simple countering, will arrive at some point bcuz the extremes are only extremes due to its counter point. Such individuals cannot exist without.
Wow!
Do you like the album animals by pink floyd?
I appreciate how you point out that nihilism can seem like stoicism on the surface but without stoicism's emphasis on virtues. This confusion is so annoyingly prevalent these days, especially since stoicism is so popular.
This kid won the intellectual lottery. I would love to be able to think that deeply
I think a better stance than “nothing matters” is “be good, be kind, help others, and don’t be a burden; nothing _else_ matters.”
One frustrating thing about the term "nihilism" is that it actually refers to two mutually exclusive concepts.
One is simply a rejection of the establishment narratives. In rejecting the mainstream narratives you are said to be nihilist even if you have an entire narrative to replace it.
The other is a worldview that is totally lacking in meaning, value, or sense.
For me, I think the latter is interesting in that it's factually untrue for most people who claim to hold it. Unless you intend to lay in bed until you die of starvation or lack of water, you inherently embody certain values, meaning, sense. To truly hold that there is no such things as value, meaning, or sense would necessarily imply that there is no reason to do anything. Hunger, pain, thirst, heat, cold, lust -- no matter what it is, if there is no value, meaning, or sense then there's no reason to pursue it or avoid it. To sit and starve in bed is just as valid an answer as going out to become a great man.
During my existential crisis, I continued to do the things I did before embracing nihilism because I hoped there was a better answer, but I have to assume that if I had failed to find such an answer, the correct action would have been to stop trying to act in any virtuous ways.
Thankfully for me, I eventually realized that I'm not a calculator in a jar, and I of course do have values, see meanings, and make sense of the world. If I can't understand them from my rational mind then it's time to let go of logic and embrace the emotions that tell me certain stories inspire awe or fear or happiness or sadness. It becomes a lodestone pointing at the things you think are important even if you can't rationally explain why.
If nothing matters...that doesn't matter to me at all. : )
It's true that to not care about a thing would seem very liberating, but it certainly can't be forced. And while it seems to be working, it will take its hidden toll under the surface. But maybe for a total psychopath. But then what's it like also to lack all that innate ability to sense subtle meaning.
Interestingly, you brought back a memory of many years ago, my early adulthood, another guy I knew via other people but not closely and didn't much like. I had no problems from him, bigger and a little older than him I guess, but he seemed kind of selfish and nasty, and he made other people's life a misery. But one day I was walking down the street and he was on the other side of the street with a couple of girls that he knew, I think I vaguely knew them too (we were all part of the 'punk/alternative' scene in our town, so a smallish circle), and I can see it even to this day because it was so striking, but maybe also because of what happened afterwards. But he was talking in a really cheerful, friendly, open, animated way, and I watched it intently, because I'd never seen him seem like that at all to the mildest extent. And that very same evening he arrived home and hung himself from a light fixture in his house. I was told about 4 days later. That was really interesting. It'll always stick in my mind. There's a whole internal world there that wasn't what it seemed, and which I'll never know about. I'm motivated now to remember his name and ask around people from that town who might have known him better. I actually know someone who went and danced on his grave when he died, because that was a very vulnerable person who he simply used to bully all the time.
I don't get it. I've never believed in objective meaning and I don't do evil shit. I don't even know why people want objective meaning?
I think a lot of people are against it because they identify with some objective morality and objective meaning and nihilism runs counter to that and thus must be wrong, some see it as a challenge
That's the price of being too intellectually smart but lack in spirit..
By mean spirit,. it's the sense of oneness with people and humility.
There's that lack of vulnerability and intimacy toward each other seems the root for me that make me feel nihilist seems to not open themselves. They may have grew up being tired of the world abandoned by the pressure of their loveones and lived with just pure psychological trauma. All of this madness is just pain hidden under the guise of the pursuit of knowledge which only death can give them meaning.
It all "doesn't matter", until it does.
It's all just a matter of time.
How in the heavens are you so superiorly eloquent in your speech and articulation!!!
Take a bow!
❤❤❤
Do more videos about Nietzsche
Would not someone without values also lack desire ?
Would you consider collaborating with uberboyo?
I always thought nihilism is the idea that there isn’t meaning in anything, only the meaning you assigned to things, so what is meaningful to you could be the ones you love, could be the idea of kindness, could be the idea of morals it’s not necessarily without morals, unless you really don’t wanna live with them. I guess I was wrong.
Kierkegaard isn't that against Don Juan. His point is that people can't fully give themselves to the pursuit of novelty and experience the way he does.
Oh yes that was what I was trying to say here, sorry if it came across more venomous than intended
40 days doesn't cut it buddy it's an experience formed through layers and on
Nothing is true, everything is permitted
Even if the universe has no purpose or meaning we can say some sensible thing.
Pleasure is better than pain.
Long term pleasure or long term absence of pain is better then short term.
Benefit for the many is better then benefit for the few.
Tyranny of the majority is bad as selfdetermination is paramount.
I wonder if Justin Roiland read Crime and Punishment. Making Rick Sanchez based off of Svidrigailov.