Unreasonably Caused (on the Essence of Evil)

 
PIIS023620070019516-4-1
DOI10.31857/S023620070019516-4
Publication type Article
Status Published
Authors
Affiliation: Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod
Address: 23 Gagarin Ave., Nizhny Novgorod 603022, Russian Federation
Journal nameChelovek
EditionVolume 33 Issue 2
Pages147-164
Abstract

A hypothesis is presented and justified, according to which the essence of evil is considered as something that is unreasonably caused. The author's arguments are supported by the conceptual interrelation between the following three statements: 1) dialectically conflicting interpretation of evil; 2) traditional classification of evil as an unvalue; 3) suspicious attitude towards causality, which is characteristic of philosophical schools that are not strictly rationalistically oriented. By differentiating causation and founding, evil differs from good, which is understood in its essence as something unreasonably (extra casually) founded. Within the conceptual matrix of “causation and founding” some other meaningful ethical phenomena are determined, in particular, indifference. To support his hypothesis, the author uses, first of all, modernist style texts (or texts that are read as modernist ones) both of realistic and religious orientation, by interpreting them. In the meaningful explanation of the essence of evil as of something that is unreasonably caused, special emphasis is given to the F.M. Dostoevsky’s characters — Kirillov and Stavrogin. Attention is paid to the semantic nuances of the termed word combination (when bringing together the “unreasonableness” with the «involuntariness» and “inadvertence”). When drawing conclusions, the author emphasizes that evil cannot do in its manifestation without a causal action, which is absolutely formal, but at the same time solely reliably ascertained reason of an evil deed drowning in a lot of reasons that are empirically meaningful, but pretty speculative ones. Causality provokes and protects evil. Indifference being the thing that is reasonably not caused constitutes evil deeds that are turned inside out. Total indifference is indistinguishable from interminable evil. The “free” causality that is rationalistically confident cannot overcome nature's indifference to humans (which, however, can never be complete or thorough) and cannot support freedom (which is belittled by any causality) it the latter’s nurturing of good. And last but not least, good and evil are not that asymmetric so that a final victory of one over the other would be possible, and not that symmetric, too, so that the struggle for good against evil would become meaningless and hopeless.

Keywordsevil, essence of evil, unreasonably caused, causation, founding
Received06.04.2022
Publication date11.05.2022
Number of characters32560
Cite  
100 rub.
When subscribing to an article or issue, the user can download PDF, evaluate the publication or contact the author. Need to register.

Number of purchasers: 0, views: 519

Readers community rating: votes 0

1. Bataj Zh. Literatura i Zlo / per. s fr. N.V. Buntman i E.G. Domogatskoj. M.: Izd-vo MGU, 1994.

2. Bauman Z., Donskis L. Tekuchee zlo: zhizn' v mire, gde net al'ternativ / per. s angl. A.I. Samarinoj; nauch. red. M.A. Simakova. SPb.: Izd-vo Ivana Limbakha, 2019.

3. Blejk U. Pesni nevinnosti i opyta. M.: Tsentr knigi Rudomino, 2010.

4. Dostoevskij F.M. Besy // Dostoevskij F.M. Sobr. soch.: v 15 t. T. 7. L.: Nauka, 1990.

5. [Works: in 15 vol.]. Vol. 7. Leningrad: Nauka Publ., 1990.

6. Dostoevskij F.M. Dnevnik pisatelya. SPb.: Lenizdat, 1999.

7. Dostoevskij F.M. Zapiski iz podpol'ya // Dostoevskij F.M. Sobr. soch.: v 15 t. T. 4. L.: Nauka, 1989. S. 452–550.

8. Levitskij S.A. Svoboda i otvetstvennost': «Osnovy organicheskogo mirovozzreniya» i stat'i o solidarizme. M.: Posev, 2003.

9. Lorents K. Vosem' smertnykh grekhov tsivilizovannogo chelovechestva // Lorents K. Tak nazyvaemoe zlo / per. s nem. A.I. Fedorova pod red. A.V. Gladkova. M.: Kul'turnaya revolyutsiya, 2008a. S. 7–83.

10. Lorents K. Tak nazyvaemoe zlo. K estestvennoj istorii agressii // Lorents K. Tak nazyvaemoe zlo / per. s nem. A.I. Fedorova pod red. A.V. Gladkova. M.: Kul'turnaya revolyutsiya, 2008b. S. 85–308.

11. Losskij V.N. Ocherk misticheskogo bogosloviya Vostochnoj Tserkvi. Dogmaticheskoe bogoslovie. M.: Tsentr «SEhI», 1991.

12. Nitsshe F. Zlaya mudrost'. Aforizmy i izrecheniya / per. s nem. K.A. Svas'yana // Nitsshe F. Sochineniya: v 2 t. T. 1. M.: Nauka, 1997. S. 720–768.

13. Nitsshe F. K genealogii morali. Polemicheskoe sochinenie / per. s nem. K.A. Svas'yana // Nitsshe F. Poln. sobr. soch.: v 13 t. T. 5. M.: Kul'turnaya revolyutsiya, 2012a. S. 229–381.

14. Nitsshe F. Po tu storonu dobra i zla. Prelyudii k filosofii buduschego / per. s nem. N.N. Polilova // Nitsshe F. Poln. sobr. soch.: v 13 t. T. 5. M.: Kul'turnaya revolyutsiya, 2012b. S. 7–227.

15. Fatenkov A.N. Nevozvraschenets: figura sub'ekta v negativnoj dialektike // Voprosy filosofii. 2013. № 6. S. 159–169.

16. Fatenkov A.N. Ehkzistentsial'naya ontognoseologiya: ot opyta k svidetel'stvu // Filosofiya i kul'tura. 2012. № 6 (54). S. 7–18.

Система Orphus

Loading...
Up