Notes from Underground, written by Dostoevsky in the nineteenth century

Before thinking about Notes, reflect on the previous age's ideas

Remember the eighteenth century?

I Revolution in France and America: the desire to create a state 1) in France of equality, fraternity, brotherhood; 2) in America of life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness

II The celebration of rationalism (reason, using your brain) of the Enlightenment: The belief that rationalism would predominate over irrationalism in enlightened and educated people.

III Science, Newtonian Physics: optimism that humans could penetrate the mysteries of the universe (previously thought unknowable except by god).

IV Rousseau: the concept that humans are basically good

Dostoevsky in the nineteenth century:

I Dostoevsky is anti-Enlightenment: he attacks the impracticality of perfecting the state: socialism/utopias: "But man is so partial to systems and abstract conclusions that he's ready to distort the truth intentionally, ready to deny everything that he himself has ever seen and heard, merely in order to justify his own logic. . . . Just look around: rivers of blood are being spilt . . . Take Napoleon . . . Take North America -- that eternal union" (1318)

II Attacks rationalism (2+2=4) He posits the dominance of irrationality (2+2=5): humans do not always act in their own best interests; they act irrationally. ". . . when was it during all these millennia, that man has ever acted only in his own self interest?" (1317)

III Attacks the idea that humans are basically good: "Oh, tell me who was first to announce, first to proclaim that man does nasty things simply because he doesn't know his own true interest; and that if he were to be enlightened, if his eyes were to be opened to his true, normal interests, he would stop doing nasty things at once and would immediately become good and noble . . . ?" (1317)

IV He predicts the modern fear of totalitarianism: the "anthill" (1324); "I wished to become an insect many times. But not even that wish was granted . . . being overly conscious is a disease . . ."(1309

V Articulates the modern sense of alienation (the sense of being alone in an uncaring universe): The man from Underground is the first alienated character. Dostoevsky is anticipating existentialism. (See Camus and Sartre.) " . . . being overly conscious is a disease" 1309)

VI Freud said that Dostoevsky was his textbook. Dostoevsky portrays psychological conditions: according to Dostoevsky, humans are sadomasochistic (Freudian terms). On one hand, humans are brutal and violent (war); on the other, humans find pain pleasurable; humiliation satisfying (martyrdom, victim hood). Masochism: ". . . bitterness turned into some kind of shameful, accursed sweetness and at last into genuine earnest pleasure?" (1309-10); "There is some enjoyment even in a toothache" (1313).

VII The importance of free choice: " . . . what sort of free choice will there be when it comes down to tables and arithmetic [rationalism], when all that's left is two time two makes four? Two times tow makes four even without my will. Is that what you call free choice?" (1323)