Metaphysical Crime in Dostoevsky

Authors

  • Roberto Wu Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17851/2317-2096.20.3.257-266

Keywords:

crime, nihilism, extraordinary man

Abstract

Dostoevsky develops in Crime and punishment an analysis of the way that the Russian intellectuality in the 1860’s understood the notion of crime, often related to the thesis of the social determination of the crime. The nihilism of that time, as expressed by Chernyshevsky, proposes the scientific development as the instrument of solution of social problems, what leads to the decrease and even the extinction of crime. Along with the thesis of rational egoism, an derivation of classical utilitarianism, the increase of the scientific knowledge would be the responsible for the self-control of each person and the promotion of the common good. Crime and punishment explores the limitations of the nihilistic thesis, taking in consideration the spiritual depth of the individual and his internal contradictions.

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References

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Published

2010-12-31

How to Cite

Wu, R. (2010). Metaphysical Crime in Dostoevsky. Aletria: Revista De Estudos De Literatura, 20(3), 257–266. https://doi.org/10.17851/2317-2096.20.3.257-266

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 3 (2010): Crimes Literários

Section

Dossiê - Crimes Literários

License

Copyright (c) 2010 Roberto Wu (Autor)

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