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Wonder Confronts Certainty: Russian Writers on the Timeless Questions and Why Their Answers Matter

Name: Wonder Confronts Certainty: Russian Writers on the Timeless Questions and Why Their Answers Matter
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4.7 of 5 Stars: History & Criticism - Wonder Confronts Certainty: Russian Writers on the Timeless Questions and Why Their Answers Matter

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Book Synopsis: A noted literary scholar traverses the Russian canon, exploring how realists, idealists, and revolutionaries debated good and evil, moral responsibility, and freedom.Since the age of Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and Chekhov, Russian literature has posed questions about good and evil, moral responsibility, and human freedom with a clarity and intensity found nowhere else. In this wide-ranging meditation, Gary Saul Morson delineates intellectual debates that have coursed through two centuries of Russian writing, as the greatest thinkers of the empire and then the Soviet Union enchanted readers with their idealism, philosophical insight, and revolutionary fervor.Morson describes the Russian literary tradition as an argument between a radical intelligentsia that uncompromisingly followed ideology down the paths of revolution and violence, and writers who probed ever more deeply into the human condition. The debate concerned what Russians called “the accursed questions”: If there is no God, are good and evil merely human constructs? Should we look for life’s essence in ordinary or extreme conditions? Are individual minds best understood in terms of an overarching theory or, as Tolstoy thought, by tracing the “tiny alternations of consciousness”? Exploring apologia for bloodshed, Morson adapts Mikhail Bakhtin’s concept of the non-alibi—the idea that one cannot escape or displace responsibility for one’s actions. And, throughout, Morson isolates a characteristic theme of Russian culture: how the aspiration to relieve profound suffering can lead to either heartfelt empathy or bloodthirsty tyranny.What emerges is a contest between unyielding dogmatism and open-minded dialogue, between heady certainty and a humble sense of wonder at the world’s elusive complexity—a thought-provoking journey into inescapable questions.

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Step into the fascinating world of Russian literature with Wonder Confronts Certainty: Russian Writers on the Timeless Questions and Why Their Answers Matter. This book takes you on a journey through the minds of literary giants like Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and Chekhov as they grapple with profound questions about good and evil, moral responsibility, and human freedom. Delve into the rich tapestry of intellectual debates that have shaped two centuries of Russian writing, offering unparalleled insight into the complexities of the human condition.

Discover a literary tradition unlike any other, where radical intelligentsia clashed with introspective writers, sparking passionate dialogues about the very essence of life and existence. Gary Saul Morson skillfully guides you through the riveting arguments that have captivated generations of readers, exploring themes of ideology, revolution, and the search for meaning in a tumultuous world. Immerse yourself in a world where certainty and doubt dance together, inviting you to ponder the unanswerable questions that define our existence.

Embrace the challenge of confronting the "accursed questions" that have haunted Russian literature, challenging your perspectives and prompting profound introspection. Morson's insightful analysis sheds light on the enduring power of Russian writers to provoke thought, inspire change, and confront the complexities of the human experience. Join us on a thought-provoking journey that will leave you questioning your beliefs and exploring the boundless depths of the Russian literary landscape.

Ready to embark on a literary adventure that will expand your mind and deepen your understanding of the timeless questions that shape our world? Dive into Wonder Confronts Certainty today and experience the profound impact of Russian writers on the fabric of human thought and creativity.

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