Discover books similar to "Resurrection from the Underground: Feodor Dostoevsky"

René Girard

Resurrection from the Underground: Feodor Dostoevsky

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"Resurrection from the Underground: Feodor Dostoevsky" by René Girard is a profound exploration of the Russian novelist's work and its relevance to Girard's own theories of mimetic desire, scapegoating, and violence. The book focuses on Dostoevsky's major novels, including "Crime and Punishment," "The Idiot," and "The Brothers Karamazov," to demonstrate how the author anticipated many of Girard's ideas. Girard argues that Dostoevsky's characters are driven by mimetic desire, the concept that people desire things because others desire them. This leads to conflict, resentment, and violence, as characters compete for the same objects of desire. Girard sees Dostoevsky's work as a powerful critique of the destructive consequences of mimetic desire and a call for a new kind of religious consciousness that can overcome it. One of the book's key contributions is its analysis of Dostoevsky's use of the underground man, a literary figure who embodies the alienation and despair of modern life. Girard argues that the underground man is a symbol of the scapegoating mechanism, in which a society projects its own violence onto a single individual or group. By exploring the psychological depths of the underground man, Dostoevsky exposes the scapegoating mechanism and invites readers to question their own complicity in it. "Resurrection from the Underground" is not only a work of literary criticism but also a profound meditation on the human condition. Girard's insights into Dostoevsky's work shed light on the roots of human violence and the possibilities for transcendence. The book is essential reading for anyone interested in Dostoevsky, Girard, or the relationship between literature and religion. In summary, "Resurrection from the Underground" is a thought-provoking analysis of Dostoevsky's major novels and their relevance to Girard's theories of mimetic desire, scapegoating, and violence. The book offers a fresh perspective on Dostoevsky's work and its potential to transform our understanding of the human condition...

List of books similar to "Resurrection from the Underground: Feodor Dostoevsky":

Fyodor Dostoevsky

The Brothers Karamazov

Dostoevsky's final novel, 'The Brothers Karamazov' is a passionate philosophical investigation of God, morality, and the criminal mind. This book is a great choice for readers of 'Resurrection from the Underground' as it further explores the themes of faith, free will, and the human condition that are also present in Girard's analysis of Dostoevsky's work.

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Thomas S. Kuhn

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions

Kuhn's groundbreaking work 'The Structure of Scientific Revolutions' challenges the traditional view of scientific progress as a linear accumulation of knowledge. Instead, Kuhn argues that scientific progress is characterized by paradigm shifts, or revolutions, that fundamentally change the way we understand the world. This book is a good choice for readers of 'Resurrection from the Underground' as it provides a framework for understanding the relationship between ideas and social change that is relevant to Dostoevsky's work and Girard's analysis.

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Ernest Becker

The Denial of Death

In 'The Denial of Death', Becker argues that the fear of death is a fundamental human motivation that shapes our behavior, culture, and worldview. This book is a good choice for readers of 'Resurrection from the Underground' as it provides a psychological perspective on the themes of mortality and meaning that are present in Dostoevsky's work and Girard's analysis.

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Friedrich Nietzsche

The Will to Power

In 'The Will to Power', Nietzsche explores the concept of the will to power, arguing that it is the fundamental driving force behind human behavior and culture. This book is a good choice for readers of 'Resurrection from the Underground' as it provides a philosophical perspective on the themes of power and desire that are present in Dostoevsky's work and Girard's analysis.

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Sigmund Freud

The Interpretation of Dreams

In 'The Interpretation of Dreams', Freud offers a groundbreaking analysis of the role of the unconscious in shaping our dreams and behavior. This book is a good choice for readers of 'Resurrection from the Underground' as it provides a psychological perspective on the themes of the unconscious and desire that are present in Dostoevsky's work and Girard's analysis.

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William James

The Varieties of Religious Experience

In 'The Varieties of Religious Experience', James offers a comprehensive analysis of religious experience, drawing on a wide range of examples from different cultures and traditions. This book is a good choice for readers of 'Resurrection from the Underground' as it provides a historical and cultural perspective on the themes of religion and experience that are present in Dostoevsky's work and Girard's analysis.

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Robert Musil

The Man Without Qualities

In 'The Man Without Qualities', Musil offers a critical examination of modern society and culture, exploring the themes of identity, morality, and meaning in a rapidly changing world. This book is a good choice for readers of 'Resurrection from the Underground' as it provides a philosophical and cultural perspective on the themes of identity and meaning that are present in Dostoevsky's work and Girard's analysis.

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Albert Camus

The Rebel

In 'The Rebel', Camus offers a philosophical exploration of the concept of rebellion, examining the relationship between individual freedom and social order. This book is a good choice for readers of 'Resurrection from the Underground' as it provides a philosophical perspective on the themes of freedom and rebellion that are present in Dostoevsky's work and Girard's analysis.

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