Themes of nihilism in offense and consequence

Nihilism is one of the hardest philosophies to accurately define because of its ambiguous nature. In its simplest contact form, one might consider it an extremely pessimistic form of skepticism when the individual discount rates even the idea of existence. Therefore , to a nihilist, all ideals, relationships, power, beliefs, and emotions happen to be baseless and empty. First popularized in Ivan Turgenev’s Fathers and Sons in 1862, nihilism is associated with a revolutionary motion that took place in Russia coming from 1814 to 1876. The principles of nihilism often could be linked with the ones from utilitarianism, existentialism, and anarchism.

Dostoevsky demonstrates his aversion to this beliefs through Raskolnikov’s mental destruction and eventual return to more traditional values following murdering the pawnbroker (an action that was caused and validated with nihilist principles).

Raskolnikov’s self-imposed seclusion represents one of the many principles of nihilism, the idea that nothing truly exists triggers relationships of any kind to look futile and meaningless. For that reason, Raskolnikov eliminates human discussion of any sort as much as possible.

His exil from the associated with society just serves to perpetuate his nihilistic traits, as he is able to distance him self from all other humans psychologically as well as actually. This results in his re-homing of Nietzsche’s concept of the “superman, an inherently nihilistic idea that sets apart humanity into the weak (the majority) plus the strong (the minority). Raskolnikov characterizes him self as a superman, above the regulations of his society. In this manner he is able to warrant his homicide of Alyona Ivanovna, which gives him assurance in his ability to commit the crime with no error or perhaps remorse. This individual considers him self an intellectual, capable better thought processes than the rest of the world, which gives him a enhanced ego and a sense of superiority.

Raskolnikov is also able to validate the killing for him self through utilitarianism, a philosophy closely related to nihilism. Trusting that killing the pawnbroker would bring about greater joy for a greater number, he exemplifies utilitarian ideas by placing himself in a position of judgment, and so a position above the rest of culture. Throughout the tale we are demonstrated that he’s not above the emotions and guilt that are the basic human reactions to an action as extreme since murder. His downfall comes because of this very fact, as he mentally and actually deteriorates underneath the stress of his culpability. His arrogance is proved to be the misguided and foolhardy ideas of one who is a classic deeply inferior and shaky person (though Raskolnikov by no means truly understands this).

Through Raskolnikov’s exemplification of the impracticality of this principle\, Dostoevsky makes his best point in Offense and Consequence. His comments on the subject attempts to discredit the theory in the circumstance of an individual “superman by displaying Raskolnikov being a character who may be difficult pertaining to readers to recognize with because of his inanity. Even Raskolnikov’s name is a symbol of nihilistic suggestions, the word “raskol meaning schism in Russian, illustrating the shift coming from an older school of thought (social utopianism) to a more dark philosophy: nihilism and utilitarianism.

Raskolnikov seems to fluctuate forward and backward between the two philosophies, acting on one and then mentally chastising himself for it, immediately and almost erratically changing his head. This is a symbol of the more human side of him struggling to get through, for example, when he leaves money intended for the Marmeladovs and immediately regrets the choice, stating “What a stupid thing I have done.  His change of mind demonstrates his nihilistic inclinations overcoming his attempt at consideration. Ultimately Dostoevsky uses Raskolnikov to disprove this new way of thinking by implying his eventual return to even more humane rules in the turn of the tale, after this individual finds take pleasure in in Sonya.

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