Nietzsche and Dostoevsky: On the Verge of Nihilism (Lisbon Philosophical Studies – Uses of Languages in Interdisciplinary Fields)

The first time that Nietzsche crossed the path of Dostoevsky was in the winter of 1886–87. While in Nice, Nietzsche discovered in a bookshop the volume __L’esprit souterrain__. Two years later, he defined Dostoevsky as the only psychologist from whom he had anything to learn. The second, metaphorical encounter between Nietzsche and Dostoevsky happened on the verge of nihilism. Nietzsche announced the death of God, whereas Dostoevsky warned against the danger of atheism. This book describes the double encounter between Nietzsche and Dostoevsky. Following the chronological thread offered by Nietzsche’s correspondence, the author provides a detailed analysis of Nietzsche’s engagement with Dostoevsky from the very beginning of his discovery to the last days before his mental breakdown. The second part of this book aims to dismiss the wide-spread and stereotypical reading according to which Dostoevsky foretold and criticized in his major novels some of Nietzsche’s most dangerous and nihilistic theories. In order to reject such reading, the author focuses on the following moral dilemma: If God does not exist, is everything permitted? Dedication Acknowledgments Contents Note on Translations and Abbreviations Preface Part I. Nietzsche Discovers and Reads Dostoevsky 1. Nietzsche’s Discovery of Dostoevsky 2. L’esprit souterrain (Katia, The Landlady) 3. L’esprit souterrain (Lisa, Notes from Underground) 4. Resentment 5. Notes from the House of the Dead 6. The Insulted and Injured 7. A Heated Debate 8. A “Subterranean” at Work 9. Petersburg-Style Nihilism 10. Further Readings 11. On the Possible Reading of Crime and Punishment 12. Jesus as Idiot 13. Demons 14. Dostoevsky as Artist. Russian Pessimism and Décadence 15. An Unexpected Silence? A Recapitulation of Nietzsche’s Discovery and Reading of Dostoevsky Part II. If God Does not Exist, Is Everything Permitted? Contextualization of the Problem 1. The Brothers Karamazov 2. Nothing Is True, Everything Is Permitted 3. Dostoevsky contra Nietzsche? 4. Conclusive Remarks: Rethinking the Relation between Nietzsche and Dostoevsky Bibliography Name Index The first part of this book provides a detailed analysis of Nietzsche’s discovery and engagement with Dostoevsky. The second part aims to dismiss the wide-spread and stereotypical reading according to which Dostoevsky foretold and criticized in his major novels some of Nietzsche’s most dangerous and nihilistic theories.