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The Brothers Karamazov, like many of Dostoevsky's works, is partly an attack on Western rationalism. For Dostoevsky, this rationalism is manifested in the insistent question, Why? Why should a father love a son, or vice versa? Dostoevsky's answer is partly taken from the story of Job: Why should Job love a second set of children after losing a first? Dostoevsky cannot explain why or how; but he (through Father Zossima) simply says, "He did."
I've thought the best way to summarize Dostoevsky's point is with a variation on the Anselmian credo ut intelligam. Dostoevsky would say instead, amo ut intelligam.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 at 01:25 PM
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