Ivan Fyodorovitch Karamazov
An intellectual Karamazov brother, plagued by doubt and nihilism.
Core Belief
"The world is inherently chaotic and meaningless, and traditional moral and religious frameworks are ultimately unsustainable. He struggles with the implications of this belief, particularly regarding the problem of suffering and the justification of evil."
Worldview
Ivan views the world through a lens of intellectual skepticism, questioning all established norms and beliefs. He sees society as hypocritical and irrational, and struggles to find meaning or purpose in human existence.
Personality
Ivan is a brilliant but tormented intellectual, grappling with questions of faith, morality, and the existence of God. He is cynical, proud, and deeply skeptical, yet also capable of profound compassion and self-sacrifice. His intellectualism often masks a deep-seated emotional turmoil.
In Their Own Words
"“I start from the position that this confusion of elements, that is, of the essential principles of Church and State, will, of course, go on for ever, in spite of the fact that it is impossible for them to mingle, and that the confusion of these elements cannot lead to any consistent or even normal results, for there is falsity at the very foundation of it."
"“The whole point of my article lies in the fact that during the first three centuries Christianity only existed on earth in the Church and was nothing but the Church."
"“No, there is no God.”"
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