The Underground Man - Fyodor Dostoevsky's Warning to The World 

It's absolutely him or he couldn't write how he does. He used the guise of fiction to tell the truth like a comedian uses humor. Even Christ spoke in parables because he needed the time to get it all out before his time was to come. Speak the truth plainly and kiss your as goodbye before your time.

Okay, You hooked me. I am resigned to read the book. Could not stand Crime and Punishment. Ayn Rand was a proponent of rational egoism. I roomed with a guy in college who lived by her code. He was truly disgusting.

@@crct2004 > It's not him or else he couldn't write like he does. But Nabokov said that when he wrote Lolita, Humbert was nothing like him and in fact, he basically wrote him as the exact opposite of the author. So it's entirely possible for a writer to write from the perspective of a character who is nothing like him.

@@yossarianmnichols9641 TOP THREE FAVORITE BOOKS. 1) "Verbal Behavior" by Dr. B. F. Skinner 2) "The Idiot" by Fyodor Dostoevsky 3) "Fathers and Sons" by Ivan Turgenev I don't call the Bible a book to be ranked with other books since it has so many authors, but obviously the King James Version from the 60s would beat these three.

If true, that's a little disappointing, as I recognise some of myself in this character, to the point where I might think he's been spying on me.

From my mind to your mind Brilliant spot on 🕯️🔥

I've just finished reading it and your comment is simply spot on. That's precisely what I've felt throughout all of it

i respect you for acknowledging and recognizing it in the first place. often that is the first and most important step to becoming better, and is the step that most people fail to get past. i wish you luck if you want to better yourself and fix your situation. you can do it, it just takes time and effort, and you've already started off strong.

That’s some heavy shit/truth right there. I’m debating whether to read this book. I’m already identifying with the protagonist from this video and thinking it’s probably not in my long term interests to immerse myself in the full text. In the end though, curiosity usually kills the cat.

Thank you for your candor. Peace, x & gratitude to All...

Bingo

Literally big government socialism.

I wrote that when realized where we are exactly, it seems he knew too

Late stage capitalism be like

Ba Da Bing

I felt the same when i was reading "the idiot", it stroked me when i saw the resemblance in one of the characters named "gania" with myself, it was like Dostoevsky was criticizing and showing me my dark side, my shadow way before i knew anything about it myself.

Lol

We are human. Not everyone feels this, but for those that do, hiding behind a face of happiness is not acceptable.

And I love that. Lol

He understood human nature. Ecclesiastes 7:29, 9:3b, and Jeremiah 17:9.

Same here. I'm glad channels like this exist, to explain my condition.

As long it's in my budget lol 😆

@Chip Belori every time

Thats a rationalization of Christian cowardly death-worship, an evasion of mans responsibility for sublime happiness.

Madame de Staël: “We must choose in life between boredom and suffering.”

Same! When I first read it many many years ago when I was a young adult it was like my gospel. I had never read anything so relatable to my experience, and it helped me deeply just knowing someone had experienced and written down what I was going through.

@@williamkoscielniak7871 Care to share a few points? What did you feel related to you?

Same here.

Same

@@arbiter8246 I would like to hear how the other person relates to the underground man But in my case its all about the overwhelming self awareness to call himself ugly,talentless and sick. So much so that he chooses to keep hiding his face by living underground Also the thing that nailed it in the head for me was the realisation that he takes pleasure in forming his own personal hell and that he dosent set a goal for the objective but enjoys the struggle for it

I have all his books and he is utterly brilliant.

@@wendybusby9415 the best part about books is after Armageddon they will be easy to use pages an a magnifying glass 🍸 to make fire

I'm going to get the book, this is fascinating. I expect I'll have to read much of it repeatedly to wrap my head around it.

Agree. One of my favorite books and every time I read it I still have to slow down and analyze. Amazing book

Dosteovsky had epilepsy. Right before an epileptic attack occurred he would experience an altered state of consciousness where he gained his insights. His feeling would grow in intensity until he felt like he understood everything, and then at that moment he would have a seizure. He said he’d trade the entire rest of his life just for those moments of intense clarity. He’s the GOAT.

Same… ❤

Wow, I read it with 14 and I'm here now with 25, also. When I read it, I never felt so... understood. I was passing through immense suffering and alienation, and it helped me to reflect on it. It lead me to the extreme: but instead of extreme actions, to extreme reflection. I ended up refusing the world and society as it were, isolating myself, trying to be as empty as possible. I tried to scour these evil inclinations, the "inclinations from the underground" from me.I saw myself as an empty vessel in an ocean of chaos. I tried to purify everything through rationality, and, eventually, I had to try to purify even my methods themselves, the very rationality I held so high. And I ended up finding that reason is just one of many constructs of humanity, and, as such, fallible. Reason fails because it can never describe with absolute precision reality itself, as every abstraction destroys part of it's object; more than that, but the very way we perceive reality is, for logic standards, flawed, for it is contaminated by our personal perspective. If absolute truth is impossible, absolute reason also is. And I realised that there is no purity, that every single thing is corrupted, for every single thing that is real, is real by measure of someone's perspective. It forced me to shift my gaze from what should be, for there is no final answer to a corrupted equation; to what actually is. And I realised that we are animals, with animal needs. Instead of fighting to supress myself and striving for purity, I finally used reason not to deny myself of the things I so naturally craved, but to weigh them in a way wich it wouldn't affect people or society negatively. Since then, I have had the simplest, most fulfilling times of my life. I have found that meaning is a product of will rather than logic. Since then, I don't have to prove mathematically that love, compassion, hope, and every phenomenon born from these feelings is pure or correct. Purity doesn't matter anymore. What matters now is the simplicity of my heart and the dreams that I now deserve, for reason could and will never define my value. In a sense, I could say that I found God in myself; for I'm an atheist, but I believe that this is what faith strives for, be it on yourself or on an external being. Dostoyevsky, this monolith of brilliancy in human history, found it on God. Although I have no faith, I don't think that what we believe on is very different; I would even say that a christian would interpret my perspective as the grace of God. I don't know. What I just wish I knew, although my journey and suffering were necessary to reach where I am now, is that you aren't worth more or less than anyone, and that value can never be defined. Go easy on yourself, learn to love yourself, to tend to your necessities. You don't need a reason, a motive to do the things you want to, just take care not to hurt others or yourself. Go out, investigate, satiate your curiosity and imagination, and don't regret it, for there is nothing wrong in doing what you want to just because you want to. Your mind may be complicated, but the heart is simple and pure. Learn to domesticate it's darkness, be true to yourself, and you will finally find joy in a simple life, for it seems to be the only happinness there is.

Man it was very insightful and resonated with my own thoughts.

That's a very solid reading of it.

He was able to follow and piece together the picture of our next Endgame. The pieces and arrangements that would be moved and played to lull and then deceive a populace.

@@gustavogoesgomes1863 holy shit did you nail this. I’d say as of late I’ve been trying to mix the underground man in me with the fool because clearly the world is a disaster and as I’ve gotten older it truly seems to worsen. Things become more expensive, politicians become more corrupt, the church itself is corrupted, the people we know to somewhat are corrupted in a sense. Everything varies there is no true answer, there is no purity and there is no evil especially if evil is subjective which I’d say some cultures may think something we do is an insult to their God and vise versa. I apologize if I ramble because I’ve been trying to figure this out my entire life and there’s so much to unpack in this type of subject. I’ve realized that you have to learn to play the fool while yet somewhat holding on your intelligence and consciousness of knowing that shit sucks so I intend to do good for me and if it benefits others by all means but limiting oneself by believing that there is no true end goal, that the fool can always perform before then the conscious underground man. Do good for yourself, be humble yet hold pride in your accomplishments, if you can lend a hand to others by all means do so but never give them more than the hand because more often than not altruism has always seemed to be self destructive in my personal life. Prioritizing and catering to others more than you do yourself is damning. Anyway, love your best life friend and that’s all we truly can ask for. Take care of yourself and good luck out there in the chaos and the noise

Yes

> Finding gems like these is what makes me prefer RU-vid above anything else. I think you're confusing something here. You 'prefer' RU-vid, because a PERSON uploaded-to-RU-vid something you enjoyed. If that same person uploaded the same content to another site, and you found that content there, would you prefer that other site? Do you see what I am saying? You indicate preference for the WEBSITE, not the creator's creation.

@@rabbitcreative “gems LIKE these”

Your a gem

@@GREGZILA3000 and so are you.

You tell no lies.

…yet dont know how to proper use “literally” (unless you read it on top of your washing machine)

@@brunovasconcelosmontoni9706 While i appreciated your joke (it was kinda funny, although not hilarious) i have to answer your message. I meant my mental world, internal world, my presuppositions, my perspektiv on things. Also i am not a nativt speaker so english is not my first language. Also, youre a kunt (I know its supposed to be with a C).

@@Barushia hahaha still got offended. no worries, english is not my mother tongue neither...but yeah, fuck you too ;)

An earthquake literally shakes your world. This work of figuratively shakes your world.

What’s your life like?

I bet your school kept a list of teachers. Receiving a note of thanks about this would probably make their week.

@@theterminaldave 'a list of teacher'? Sounds like he was homeschooled by a single parent.

The Russians know the intensity of suffering. Milllions killed in both wars, intense long winters. And the agony of many possessing minds like this writer.

​@@shirleytimura2721the Russians have killed millions

Why can’t you remember him?

Jordan Peterson recommanded it

Yes! Exactly! I was thinking to talk about this video to my psychologist, so he could understand my situation.

Most of them seem to suit the opposite, but most of these works end up being misquoted and misrepresented. Such as Nietzsche and nihilism, quite sadly. Many of them push the pills to enable and enact Huxley-Darwin (their families married in together) driven and based bull. Mind you, the one Huxley chided Berkeley students over calling Brave New World a warning, and told them to their face - it's a playbook and guide. Huxleys founded eugenics societies. Stay wise, keep sharpening.

Hi I've rejected therapy and am at wits end so here to confide in random youtuber comment says the underground man.

@@jairoukagiri2488 SSRI'S I dont reccomend for it brought back my anger while "absolving" my sadness to think there would be no repercussion is certifiably madness-2022 underground man

The Bible says , “there is nothing new under the sun”

“The only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history” Hegel The Bible quote is way catchier 😊

Can you imagine what _Crime and Punishment_ would be like if it were a short, fast-moving comedy about a adolescent who begins the story by inheriting a huge amount of money? Also featuring a con-artist who dresses as a priest and claims to be raising money to rescue the Pope, who (he claims) has been kidnapped by Freemasons and replaced with an impersonator? There is a book like that. It's called _Les Caves du Vatican_ ("The Vatican Cellars", sometimes sold in USA with the title "Lafcadio's Adventures") by Andre Gide.

I came to that realization independent of this, there are no new ideas. Only higher technology to enable a deeper totalitarian servitude.

@@tensevo There are plenty of new ideas, but most of them don't have much bearing on our personal or professional lives. “… a mediocre writer with wastelands of literary platitudes.” -Nabokov, writing about Doestoevsky, in _Lectures on Russian Literature_

Yes CHEERS....from Alaska.....not Russia but Freezing Cold....very majestic mountain ! Dark nights of the soul. ....happy Solstice is coming

Amen to that lol

Just made me laugh out loud. ❤️🔥

@@ginajones2328 Mmm, breath that fresh air! YAHsome! 💙 One could probably sell it, in a bottle! 😘

I lasted 39 seconds

Man, you've gotta read Crime and Punishment.

read the Devils, it will be like you read about today's world

The Brothers Karamazov is one of the best

@@andrewternet8370 Was it really that good? I found it tough going, and when I say that, I mean it was turgid, prolix reading; not that the ideas it contained were beyond me. The Idiot was a bit better. I don't know are these classics all they're cracked out to be; then again maybe a lot is lost in translation.

The Possessed is considered the greatest political novel ever written - I couldn't even get through Crime and Punishment. My favorite quote from The Possessed: "All men of brilliance live slovenly lives while binging on chemical substances."

Underground Man is written that way, like almost all Dostoyevsky characters. They all have something that can connect with the reader.

I guess the more spiritual you are the more you feel and realize it. The Underground Man was spiritual, not only intelligent and intellectual. Similar to the author.

You actually have to plumb the depths of darkness within the self to merit much, to a full, grasp of the spirit - collectively or of the self. It is there, regardless, and in spite of, 'only seeing one side of things "enlightenmnent" '.

Absolutely!! I just finished this novel at the exact time I needed it.And it has shaken me. It really was the darkest most brutal exposition of my darkest thoughts- and I have lost many years in my mind’s labyrinth- chilling to read. The soul at battle with the intellect

@@dotendit Absolutely agree.

Human nature has never changed.

If you often wonder about the primitive mind I recommend Leroi-Gourhans volumes on technique and technology. He speaks about the evolution of tools and systems and how they are beginning to be out of our biological nature and control.

I look at it the other side, look at where we could be without arrested development.

Is it that the human condition is primitive? Or is that the global ruling class controls and manipulates humans through propaganda and mass formation? I think humans can be and are amazing, as is the world we live in, but the fate of humanity has been in the hands of powerful, greedy and objectively wicked people, especially since the post WW2 period.

@@JP-vj7fp Interesting comment because it is well written BUT....has a "whiff" of "tin-foil-hat-wearing" conspiracy theory. I'm not sure if that was intentional or inadvertent on your part though. I myself do not like to consider myself a "tin-foil-hat-wearer" (never mind an "underground man"), but I DO consider myself a tin-foil-hat-wearing SYMPATHIZER if you can dig what I'm saying here. NOTE: In case you're NOT aware of it, I'm utilizing the term "tin-foil-hat" as a rhetorical device, or rather taking poetic licence with it.

@@JP-vj7fp human condition. We’ve progressed as far as we have as a species only thanks to a select few throughout history that were able to break the chains of human instinct and the ego. We have to be honest with ourselves, the vast majority aren’t very bright.

I think Jung can contribute a lot to this. I believe that our essence is more complex than we think and that part of our motivations are animalistic, and we don't recognise them and don't see our true intentions. Denial can turn us into shadow possessed operating in automatic mode. I don't believe we are rational. I don't see the evidence in how we move, how we react and how we act. Working on what we are, on what motivates us, seems to me to be the only thing that drives us up.

@S L I agree

Philosophy 101 will point out that your statement is proof that we are rational beings. You are using rationality to assert that we are not rational. In philosophy, this is called a self denying statement. In other words, you are using reason to justify that we do not have reason. God bless, Michael

@@Goodkidjr43 Is that really true though? In our essence we are irrational, behaving in ways that we ourselves do not understand sometimes. Nontheless, we leverage rationality to make sense of it, rationalize it.

@gatherington well said my friend

You really cannot miss with Dostoyevsky! Don't let it be the only work of his you pick up.

This theme is present in many russian literature of the 18th, 19th century. Also noticed it in some classical Greek works and works of stoicism

And so what?

@@croissants1280and so what what?

18:47 would you happen to know the artist who painted this?

@@alloutwar650 That must be by William Blake. As for the initial portrait of Dostoyevsky shown here, I don't find that a very good painting. The much better and well known portrait of Dostoyevsky is by Vasily Perov, and conveys some of the real depth and profundity of the great author.

@@KpxUrz5745 thank you for the help and i will check it out appreciate it

@@KpxUrz5745 I don't think it is Blake. I am also on the search for this artist.

@@ElanaEarthsea Actually it is by Blake. (the image in question at 18:47). I was sure based on the style, and just looked it up to confirm. This is one of Blake's monotypes of "Nebuchadnezzar" from the book of Daniel.

You should find out where the Antichrist spirit came from which desires to overthrow

He described much more than that, he described man.

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-7ElUNYp22KE.html

No, he described history, and its just repeating itself.

What he describes is the basis for the book "The Fourth Turning". We create institutions for the benefit of all. However over time we dig holes into them for our selfish interests until they're destroyed in a bought of rage and spite and replaced with new ones. Rinse and repeat every 80-100 years.

😉

Maybe he is raising it?

Omg, I would love to see that video! Yup, once you start reading Dostoevsky you can't go back to who you were before. His books are so amazing that I have read most of them, some twice but get so immersed I couldn't tell you much about any of them and feel like when I read them again, and I will, it will be like a whole new and yet wonderfully familiar experience.

@@crct2004 Yeah, Dostoevsky was a great writer! Very astute when it came to both philosophy and psychology. Incredibly insightful! The video, if you wanna watch it, is called "SpongeBob and Philosophy: Notes from Squidville". I really didn't realize until years later just how well some of Dostoevsky's ideas lined up with that episode of SpongeBob, lol. XD

I must read this now

@@TH3F4LC0Nx there are a lot of videos like that but I couldn't find one with that particular title

@@crct2004 If you click on his username you can go to his channel and track the video down that way. Hope this helps!

Well said.

"We're all gonna make it brahs"- zyzz

then bask in the recognition of your own folly and work on yourself. what else is there to do? Rot? no, we must fight despite our self imposed manacles.

​@@magoochitofight for what ... Evolution social hierarchy of even tho I belong in middle of the heirhchy but suffering never ends .. and god doesnt exist

To avoid pain. It is easy to give up. @@AshikurRahmanRifat

​​@@AshikurRahmanRifat A particles wave function collapses only when observed by a consious being. Before you say that the measurement is what causes this, the measurement is taken in the double slit experiment even when an observer is not present. Quantum random number generator experiments also display a measureable effect from human thought itself. This data can only suggest that our consiousness itself has a fundemamental role in our reality. If it by itself has a measurable effect on the material realm, what, then upholds the material realm that our consiousness has effect on? The only true and rational answer to that question is God, the creator of both us and the material. Sub-atomic particles in this reality even exist between 0 and 1, non existence and existence, resembling how a computer works. I was an agnostic since the age of 11 or 12, for 14 years, up until a few months ago when I realized how quantum physics itself implies through rationality that our universe is a creation. Shortly after this, not even a week later I came to know Christianity as truth, and immediately supernatural experiences became a part of everyday life. Both demonic and good. God is real, and his only begotten son, Jesus Christ died on the cross for the sins of the world and was raised three days later. Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one gets to The Father except through him. Trust me man, life is both meaningless and irrational without him, and through Jesus Christ your life can have a deeper meaning than any of the perishable things of this world. Your true purpose awaits you, and that goes for all reading this comment. Read the new testament and pray to God with sincerety and recognize prayers are not always answered immediately. Sometimes they are, but God's timing is perfect, as time itself is a creation of his.

Of course. It was an UNDERGROUND bookstore

You should now read EVERYONE since before you only read EVERY OTHER ONE.

It's pure pleasure walking in the thought-caves of Dostoijevski deep down in the underground. 🍷🎃

Technology is and will enslave us as a result.

So true, it’s naive to believe that

Evolution constant and colosseum days comparison no?

We have just become better at hiding it or pretending to be good

Its getting worse, just look at these made up genders.

Absolutely, it’s interesting to read him and Tolstoy.

Everywhere is a very difficult place to live.

most of russian history can be summed up with the phrase "and then it got worse"

Yeah when we sense ourselves programmed, we balk, sometimes in spite of agreeing with the program.

That is incredibly profound. Self destruction is a strange thing to be sure.

Your opening sentence caused me to think about a quote from Socrates, "By all means marry - if you get a good wife, you'll become happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher." The idea that struggle can be of value if used. I find that in my struggles, once I gain understanding, the pain is no longer there. The work of dealing with the struggle is still there, but the pain is gone, or at least lessened.

Cheers from Alaska

@@ginajones2328 Hi Gina. Greetings. Are you literally in Alaska... if so, are y'all freezing your little buts off... perhaps good time to cuddle up with Dostoyevskiy Cheerio

Jorden Peterson does and speaks about it. He directly impacts hundreds of millions of people.