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Dostoevsky's Critique of J.S. Mill and Rousseau

An analysis of Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel, "Crime and Punishment," including a critique of the philosophies of J.S. Mill and Rousseau.
818 words (approx. 3.3 pages) | 3 sources | 2004 | United States
Published on: May 17, 2005

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel, "Crime and Punishment," claiming it to be a critique of the super-rationalism of the 18th century Enlightenment, particularly the philosophies of J.S. Mill and Rousseau. The focus of this paper is Dostoevsky's use of Raskolnikov to expose fundamental flaws in Mill's utilitarianism and Rousseau's concept of natural man. The paper examines how he does this by using Raskolnikov as a representation of a typical psyche and by relying on an intuitive argument to show the inability of these philosophies to reflect empirical evidence.

From the Paper:

"The character of Raskolnikov exposes flaws in Mill's utilitarianism and Rousseauvian philosophy. Dostoevsky's philosophy is unique and radically different from the prevailing ideas of eighteenth century enlightenment because of its reliance on the existence of certain truths common to the psyche of man, instead of a focus on rationality, coupled with the exclusion of other psychological elements. Raskolnikov's two major conflicts are between the rational and emotional portions of his personality and, stemming from this, his tendency to both lament and perpetuate his separation from society. His inability to reconcile these opposing facets of his being results in the great imbalance in his life."

Cite this paper

APA Citation:

Dostoevsky's Critique of J.S. Mill and Rousseau (2012, April 01). Retrieved May 19, 2012, from http://www.academon.com/Analytical-Essay-Dostoevsky's-Critique-of-J-S-Mill-and-Rousseau/58640

MLA Citation:

"Dostoevsky's Critique of J.S. Mill and Rousseau" 01 April 2012. Web. 19 May. 2012. <http://www.academon.com/Analytical-Essay-Dostoevsky's-Critique-of-J-S-Mill-and-Rousseau/58640>




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Published by:

tiarakiyoshi US
Publisher Since:
May 16, 2005
I am a junior studying languages at Louisiana Scholars' College, the designated interdisciplinary honors college for the entire state. My writing style is formal, clear, and concise. I rely heavily on logical argumentation (I have completed the highest level undergraduate Symbolic Logic) and on citation of evidence from primary texts. My writings rank from 11.9 to 12.0 on the Flesch-Kincaid scale. My IQ is 130.
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