1. “Notes from the Underground”
Fyodor Dostoevsky ( )
“Notes from the Underground”

2. Dostoevsky Philosopher, social and political commentator.
Insistence on the personal freedom of choice.
Utopia: no freedom of choice.
Eldorado = Paradise. No good!
In London attended the 1862 World's Fair and had a first-hand look at the Crystal Palace, the architectural wonder of the age.
Crystal Palace symbolized the dawning of a new age of reason and harmony.

3. Dostoevsky West in complete decay.
Only Russia has preserved true Christianity.
Dostoevsky's religion:
Humanity is fallen, but man is free to choose between Christ and evil.
Choosing Christ means taking on oneself the burden for the suffering of others.
primary importance of religion = the religious way of life.

4. Dostoevsky
Meek acknowledgement by all that our own faults are at the root of personal failure and social disorder--that is, that all are guilty.
Striving for a life of mutual support, both moral and physical, and of brotherly love for all.

5. Notes from the Underground
Precedes the four great novels: Crime and Punishment, the Idiot, The Possessed, the Brothers Karamazov.
Made up of two parts: Part I – a monologue addressing a hypothetical reader. Part II, a confession.
Criticism of the assumptions of modern civilization, of 19th century optimism about human nature and progress, and of all kinds of Utopias.

6. Notes from the Underground
He attacks
The view that human nature is good.
That we generally seek what is beneficial to us.
That science propounds eternal truths.
That paradise on earth is possible, or that it is good.
If science were valid, then humanity would become a "piano key," "an organ stop." Nothing for man to do.

7. Notes from the Underground
He attacks the Socialist view:
Man should follow his enlightened interests
Man is rational
Man is noble and good
Earth will be a place of prosperity and peace.
What if:
Man doesn't always follow his self-interest?
Man is consciously irrational, evil, bloodthirsty.

8. Notes from the Underground
Despised Utopias: ant heap.
Believed that man cannot achieve freedom and happiness at the same time. Happiness can be bought at the expense of freedom. Utopia = slavery.
Does man always seek what is beneficial to him?
Can science discover and propound eternal truths about human nature?
Man does not have a defined nature, other than survival instincts and the desire to have free choice, no matter what, even if it causes him suffering.

9. Notes from the Underground
Is paradise on earth possible? Why? How? Why not?
Is paradise good?
Is man rational?
Yes. Then why does man sometimes act irrationally?
No. Can man be turned into a rational being? NO!
Is it good to be rational? Why? Why not?
Is freedom (not the political type) possible for man?
Is happiness possible for man?
Which does man want more, freedom or happiness? Can they co-exist?

10. Chapter I Examples of the UM's character, as he defines himself.
“I am a sick man. … I am a spiteful man. I am a most unpleasant man.”
Compare to Rousseau: “I know the feelings of my heart, and I know men. I am not made like any of those I have seen; I venture to believe that I am not made like any of those who are in existence.”
UM: “I was a nasty official. I was rude and took pleasure in it.
“I’d gnash my teeth and feel unending pleasure if I succeeded in causing someone distress.”

11. Chapter I
Perhaps he is saying “I’m like all of you, my dear readers. When you are looking at me, you are looking at yourself in the mirror. You are angry at me because you don’t like what you see in the mirror.”
Self-contradictions.
“I’m sufficiently educated not to be superstitious; but I am, anyway.”
You are all educated. Do you still believe in miracles?

12. Chapter I
“Not only was I not a spiteful man, I was not even an embittered one”
“I was lying about myself just now when I said that I was a nasty official. I lied out of spite.”
“Not only couldn’t I become spiteful, I couldn’t become anything at all: neither spiteful nor good, neither a scoundrel nor an honest man, neither a hero nor an insect.”

13. Chapter I
Is there an explanation for spite? Is it rational? What exactly is it supposed to accomplish?
The UM says that intelligent people cannot become anything, only fools can become something. This is certainly opposite of what we think. What do you think he means by this statement?
His room is nasty, his servant is a foul smelling old lady, and he dislikes Petersburg. Why do you think he won't leave?

14. Chapter I
Are you, as a reader, irritated at him, as he suggests? Why would you be irritated? Perhaps, again, because you hate looking at yourself in the mirror?

15. Chapter II Being overly conscious is a disease.
What does it mean to be "overly conscious"? How can being overly conscious be a disease, or a bad thing?
The UM contrasts the overly conscious man with the man of action.
Characteristics of each type.

16. Chapter II
Attitude toward humiliation, helplessness and despair? Pleasure.
“I’ve experienced some moments when, It someone had slapped my face, I might even have been grateful for it. I’m being serious, I probably would have been able to derive a peculiar sort of pleasure from it—the pleasure of despair, naturally, hut the most intense pleasures occur in despair, especially when you’re very acutely aware of the hopelessness of your own predicament. As for a slap in the face—why, here the consciousness of being beaten to a pulp would overwhelm you.”

17. Chapter VII
This chapter begins as a satire of the ideals of the Enlightenment.
Who said that man does nasty things because he doesn’t know his own true interests? (1)
Millions of facts point to the fact that people knowingly do things that are against their own advantage.
Is it possible to determine without a doubt what is to man's advantage? Why, or why not? (2)

18. Chapter VII
How can desiring something harmful to yourself be sometimes advantageous to you?
Important human advantages that society has derived for us, according to the UM: prosperity, wealth, freedom, peace. (3)
How does a society define a madman? One who goes against his self interests.
There is one advantage that statisticians leave out. How is it remarkable? (4)

19. Chapter VII
“But man is so partial to systems and abstract conclusions that he’s ready to distort the truth intentionally, ready to deny everything that he himself has ever seen and heard, merely in order to justify his own logic.” (5). Examples? Politicians? Religious authorities?

20. Chapter VII
The UM claims that civilization has not made man any kinder.
“Just look around: rivers of blood are being spilt, and in the most cheerful way, as if it were champagne.” Napoleon, American Civil War.
“What is it that civilization makes kinder in us? Civilization merely promotes a wider variety of sensations in man and absolutely nothing else. And through the development of this variety man may even reach the point where he takes pleasure in spilling blood. Why, that’s even happened to him already. Haven’t you noticed that the most refined bloodshedders are almost always the most civilized gentlemen to whom all these Attila the Huns and Stenka Razins are scarcely fit to hold a candle.” (6)

21. Chapter VII
“At least if man hasn’t become more bloodthirsty as a result of civilization, surely he’s become bloodthirsty in a nastier, more repulsive way than before. Previously man saw justice in bloodshed and exterminated whomever he wished with a clear conscience; whereas now, though we consider bloodshed to be abominable, we nevertheless engage in this abomination even more than before. Which is worse? Decide for yourselves.” (7)

22. Chapter VII
In fact, the most bloodthirsty men in history have also been most civilized. What did Cleopatra find pleasure in? Are we any different? (7)
Torture in the Middle Ages. Any current examples? What is torture?
Science teaches man that he is a "piano key" or an "organ stop". What does he mean by that? (8)
Science also teaches man that the laws of nature also apply to his own behavior. What’s left for man to decide and do then? What does that say about free will, then? People will get bored, and “what don’t people think up out of boredom?”, even pins.

23. Chapter VII
If man's behavior can be calculated by some table, than how might a man react? (9).
What do you think is wrong with being able to calculate one's behavior?
What, according to the UM, is the only thing that a man needs at any cost? Independent desire. (10).

24. Chapter VIII
In the first two paragraphs of this Chapter the UM, and his opponent, ask, "... what if someday they really do discover the formula for all our desires and whims..." An article in US News and World Report suggests that scientists have made great stride in that direction. How would your own life and the decisions that you make change if, or when, that becomes a reality? What if the choices you make in buying a car, or finding a husband or wife can be easily predicted. (1)

25. Chapter VIII
What might man do, and why, if someone could discover the formula for all man's desires? (2)
The UM and his opponent have two different opinions regarding the question of why people sometimes do stupid things, or desire things that are not to their own advantage. What are their opinions?
If someone is selling you a very cheap machine that can predict when you will sin, or do some stupid thing, would you buy it?

26. Chapter VIII
The UM presents the view of his "opponent" regarding reason and free will. According to his opponent, how would man lead his life if his desires can be determined according to some formula? Do you agree with him? Is this what you would do?
His objection to reason. (3)
The UM says that desire preserves our personality and our individuality. What do you think he means by that? Describe the opposition between reason and desire? What does "desire" mean to you?

27. Chapter VIII
Does desire have to oppose reason, according to the UM? Explain. (4)
The UM says that one's rational faculty is about 20% of one's faculty.
The US News and World Report suggests that it's even smaller than that: "According to cognitive neuroscientists, we are conscious of only about 5 percent of our cognitive activity, so most of our decisions, actions, emotions, and behavior depends on the 95 percent of brain activity that goes beyond our conscious awareness."

28. Chapter VIII
If this is true (and we have to believe that it is true because it comes from the mouth of science), then does my essence as a human being reside in the 95%, or in the 5%?
How then should I lead my life? Should I give myself up to the irrational 95%, or should I obey the 5% rational faculty? What is the UM's answer?
Men who pretend to be rational sometimes do irrational things. Why? (5), (6).

29. Chapter VIII
What would man do, according to the UM, to make sure that reason does not prevail? (7)
The UM suggests that man sometimes clings to his stupidity just to assure himself that he is a man, and not a piano key. Do you think there is any truth to this in your own personal behavior?

30. Chapter IX
“now you want to cure man of his old habits and improve his will according to the demands of science and common But how do you know not only whether it’s possible, but even it its necessary to remake him in this way? Why do you conclude that human desire must undoubtedly be improved?”
Do you agree that this is what our modern society tries to do to man? If he is addressing you, than how would you reply to him?

31. Chapter IX
Why do you think it’s necessary to improve man, and why do you think that improving man will be to man’s advantage? It will be to your advantage, but not necessarily his.
Man likes to build, but sometimes he also likes to destroy what he has built. Man is fond of destruction. Perhaps man is afraid of achieving his goal and completing the project under construction. He loves the process, but he’s not so fond of the achievement. Why?
Man likes the process of achieving his goal, and not the goal itself.

32. Chapter IX
“After all, two times two makes four is no longer life, gentlemen, but the beginning of death.”… “. Two times two makes four—why, in my opinion, it’s mere insolence. Two times two makes four stands there brazenly with its hands on its hips, blocking your path and spitting at you. I agree that two times two makes four a splendid thing; but if we’re going to lavish praise, then two times two makes five is sometimes also a very charming little thing.” What’s wrong with 2 X 2 = 4? It doesn’t ask my opinion. Why is 2 x 2 =5 better? It’s my choice. 2X2=4 is a metaphor. For what?

33. Chapter IX
“And why are you so firmly, so triumphantly convinced that only the normal and positive—in short, only well-being is advantageous to man? Doesn’t reason ever make mistakes about advantage? After all, perhaps man likes something other than well-being? Perhaps he loves suffering just as much? Perhaps suffering is just as advantageous to him as well-being? Man sometimes loves suffering terribly, to the point of passion, and that’s a fact. … As far as my own personal opinion is concerned to love only well-being is somehow even indecent. “

34. Chapter IX
Enlightened society considers such people as mentally ill. Whose side would you take? Why?
Why is well-being better than suffering? Man sometimes likes suffering better. So, why try to cure man of his suffering? NYT article on always happy. Give people antidote so they can suffer?
Man will never denounce suffering, chaos, destruction.

35. Chapter X What does the crystal palace symbolize for the narrator?
“You believe in the crystal palace, eternally indestructible, that is, one at which you can never stick out your tongue furtively nor make a rude gesture, even with your fist hidden away. Well, perhaps I’m so afraid of this building precisely because it’s made of crystal and it’s eternally indestructible, and because it won’t be possible to stick one’s tongue out even furtively.”

36. Chapter X
How do you think the crystal palace could conflict with man's desires?
What’s wrong with the Crystal Palace? Can’t stick your tongue at it. Why? It’s perfect. Other similar metaphors? Heaven, paradise, Eldorado, utopia? What’s wrong with them? Would this man be happy there?
Why do you think being able to "stick one's tongue out" is important for the UM? What do you think is the meaning of that gesture? What does it mean to stick one's tongue at someone or something?

37. Chapter X
What’s the difference between a Crystal Palace and a chicken coop if all you want is to get out of the rain? Why might a chicken coop be better?
“Destroy my desires, eradicate my ideals, show me something better and I’ll follow you.”… And, as long as I’m still alive and feel desire—may my arm wither away before it contributes even one little brick to that building!
We underground men should be kept in check. Why? Once we emerge out we keep talking on, and on, and on.

38. Chapter XI
I swear to you, gentlemen, that I don’t believe one word of all that I have scribbled. That is, I do believe it, perhaps, but at the same very same time, I don’t know why, I feel and suspect that I’m lying like a trooper.”
Is he lying, or is he not? How do you, as a reader, respond to him, or anyone else who tells you that they've been lying to you?
Does it matter that he is a liar? What is a liar, anyway?

39. Chapter XI I am writing this for myself, won’t let you read it.
For whom does the UM say that he is writing these notes? Do you believe him? Why? I don’t believe a word I am saying. I’m a liar.
For whom are diaries written? Friends?
There are things man does not reveal to anyone, but closes friends. Some only to himself, but in secret. “There are some which man is afraid to reveal even to himself.”

40. Chapter XI
“Is it possible to be absolutely hones even with one’s own self and not fear the whole truth?”
Heine: faithful autobiographies impossible, man lies about himself.
Rousseau lied about himself in his confessions, out of vanity.
Rousseau confessed to the public, I shall never have any readers.
Whose confession do you believe more, Rousseau’s, or the UM’s, who admits he is lying?