Customer Reviews

Dostoevsky the Thinker

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

These two works add immensely to our understanding of Dostoevsky, though they have quite different purposes: Frank completes his monumental biography of Dostoevsky, while Scanlan examines the Russian writer's philosophical thought. Scanlan (emeritus, philosophy, Ohio State Univ.) argues that while much has been said about Dostoevsky as a writer, he has rarely been treated as a philosopher. Yet through his writings, he explored a variety of philosophical issues, primarily concerning the nature of humankind. Scanlan studies Dostoevsky's nationalism, opposition to rational egotism, and beliefs about our eternal souls, moral agency, and aesthetic needs. Of course, Dostoevsky's philosophy was framed within a Christian worldview, and Scanlan does excellent work discussing Dostoevsky's ideas in terms of his religious faith. Readers wanting to learn more about the thought of one of Russia's great writers will find this work essential.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The enormous spiritual power of Russia's people was Dostoevsky's
obsession, and it effected him to such a degree as to form rational
and logical discourses. Professor Scanlan gives the reader an
appreciation of Dostoevsky's thoughts as they were in the 19th Century and arguably how some may apply to the 21st Century. His
thinking about enlightened arguments are more universal and the
fictional characters do expound in depth virtually seasoned wisdom.

The book does provide a look at Dostoevsky's philosophical
strengths and weaknesses!

Dag Stomberg
St. Andrews, Scotland