My Take on Dostoyevsky and Nietzsche
My cousin is an English major who earned her master’s in English a couple of years ago, and she told me to find my own philosophy.
Sadly, I started to relate more towards Russian Classical literature such as Dostoyevsky and Nietzsche.
I related to Dostoyevsky because of his deep admiration within living in isolation. He advocated for dealing with the worst of yourself and overcoming your deepest vulnerabilities.
It’s very hard to live with your mistakes you’ve dealt with in life. In his book, Thoughts from the Underground Man, Dostoyevsky promoted “an isolated, bitter, and hyper-conscious man who rejects societal norms, rationalism, and utopian progress in favor of absolute free will.”
I found myself picking up on these negative virtues that ultimately made me a better individual.
One of Nietzsche main philosophies was known as the “Will of Power” where “He argued that the fundamental driving force in humans is not merely survival, but the drive for growth, mastery, self-overcoming, and control over one's environment.”
I found this to relate to Dostoyevsky’s philosophy that promoted free-will and his rejection of societal norms, which heavily resonated with me.
What do you agree with or disagree with within this philosophy?
Posted Aug 1, 2026, 3:41 AM UTC