Belief vs. Doubt

[8jcm4]

This novel deals with the internal conflict that people have regarding faith and doubt concerning the existance of God and immortality of the soul. I believe this argument is insoluble, and we should focus more on the problem of how to treat those around us instead of getting caught up in a debate for which there's not enough evidence on either side to conclude the victory of either side. Or, is there evidence presented in the book toward concluding belief/disbelief in a supreme being?

[marcolfo]

CHAPTER IX
THE DEVIL. IVAN´S NIGHTMARE


...and he will love his brother without need of reward...



And that´s how you treat those around you.

[SFG75]

This novel deals with the internal conflict that people have regarding faith and doubt concerning the existance of God and immortality of the soul. I believe this argument is insoluble, and we should focus more on the problem of how to treat those around us instead of getting caught up in a debate for which there's not enough evidence on either side to conclude the victory of either side. Or, is there evidence presented in the book toward concluding belief/disbelief in a supreme being?

Ivan's "everything is lawful" oration came back to haunt him as it was due to that sermon if you will, that Smerdyakov had not qualms about killing Fyodor Karamazov after Ivan left. It was this form of relativism that eventually drove Ivan crazy with guilt. It is further telling that the devil told Ivan "I have the same philosophy as you" and claimed not to even know if there was a God himself.

It is often misattributed, but the line "if there is no God, nothing matters" by Ivan is a theme that predicts the downfall of a lot of characters in the book. Fyodor, Ivan, and Dmitri lived by their own whims and were not anchored to a solid foundation. As a result, their lives were ruined by either "sensualist" desires as indicated by Fyodor and Dmitri's obsession with Grushenka, or by Ivan's "realism" that in all reality, was nothing more than just a relativist orientation that was responsible for his father's murder. Smerdyakov is the closest thing to a nihilist in my honest opinion, but is very sympathetic to Ivan's relativism.

I don't know the final answer myself, but to Dostoyevsky, God is a necessity and a required one for people. It was stated late in the book that if God didn't exist, he would have to be invented. Humans are fickle and our personal whims are often times, what gets the best of us without a moral guidepost.

[WyattGwyon]

Okay, this is a really late response, but I am new to the forum . . .

I don't get the sense that Smerdyakov needed any encouragement from Ivan or his philosophy. Ivan felt guilty because he actually left town precisely when Smerdyakov told him he should. Ivan felt himself to be knowingly complicit in the murder, not responsible for some vague philosophical influence he exerted on his half-brother.

[Dodo25]

As good as the book is with it's astonishing insight on psychology, I think the faith/doubt theme is completely outdated. It's just not true that atheists can't find meaning in their lives.


I don't get the sense that Smerdyakov needed any encouragement from Ivan or his philosophy. Ivan felt guilty because he actually left town precisely when Smerdyakov told him he should. Ivan felt himself to be knowingly complicit in the murder, not responsible for some vague philosophical influence he exerted on his half-brother.

It was a 'code', Smerdyakov asked Ivan to go to that Ch... village instead of Moscow, because it's closer and thus he'd be back sooner (when something happens). Ivan actually assured Smerdyakov twice that he'd go there, even reflecting to himself that that's a weird thing to do, but nevertheless not realizing the significance of it.

Smerdyakov didn't really care about killing Fyodor Pavlovich (and not about the money either), he didn't really care about anything and hated life in general. He wanted Ivan's encouragement because he looked up to him. The first time he's introduced, he has a discussion with Grigory on religion. He doesn't care what Grigory answers, he's simply trying to impress Ivan.