Dostoyevsky: Does one know oneself when one discovers the whole truth, or when one renounces all lies?
“Man knows himself not when he discovers the whole truth, but only when he renounces all lies.”
This profound statement conveys the essence of Dostoevsky’s philosophy on human psychology and the issue of self-knowledge.
Here is a layered analysis of this sentence:
- Why is “Discovering the Whole Truth” Insufficient?
The Limits of the Rational Search:
In Notes from the Underground, Dostoevsky argues that the “rational man” can never be satisfied despite his constant search for truth. Raskolnikov, too, believed he had found the truth through theoretical analysis (the idea of the “superior man”) before the murder, but after the act, he saw that these “truths” were an illusion.
Example: The logic in Raskolnikov’s essay collapses in the face of the remorse he experiences after the murder.
The Relativity of Truth:
According to Dostoevsky, absolute truth is too complex for humankind’s limited mind to grasp. In The Brothers Karamazov, Ivan’s dilemma of “I accept God, but I reject his order” reflects this paradox.
- Why Is “Renouncing Lies” Transformative?
The Destruction of Self-Deception:
Man’s greatest lie is the lie to himself. In The Possessed, Stavrogin even manipulates his confessions to escape his true self and ultimately commits suicide.
Counterexample: In Crime and Punishment, Sonya lives without resorting to lies. This is why Raskolnikov can confess to her.
Layers of Lies:
Dostoevsky’s characters typically lie on three levels:
To society (e.g., Raskolnikov’s “pretending to be sick”),
To himself (e.g., his belief that “this murder was necessary for humanity”),
To God (his denial of religious belief).
However, when these layers are peeled back one by one, the naked self remains.
- The Dialectic of Self-Knowledge: Decadence and Rebirth
Dostoevsky’s “Reverse Enlightenment” Thesis:
Opposite to the idea of self-knowledge through reason in Western philosophy, Dostoevsky advocates purification through suffering. In The Idiot, Prince Myshkin’s pure honesty stems from his inability to lie.
Passage: “Suffering is as important as knowing.” (The Brothers Karamazov)
Existential Context:
Like Kierkegaard’s “leap of faith,” Dostoevsky implies that human beings can only be freed by shedding all artificial identities. Raskolnikov’s transformation in Siberia begins with accepting himself as he is.
- Parallels with Modern Psychology
Jung’s Concept of the “Shadow”:
The aspects of humanity that one rejects (Raskolnikov’s tendency to violence) can only be integrated by confronting the unconscious.
Connection: The murder reveals Raskolnikov’s shadow self, but it doesn’t destroy it; it transforms it.
“Unraveling the Lies” in Psychotherapy:
Therapist Irvin Yalom emphasizes that patients cannot heal unless they recognize the lies they tell themselves (e.g., “I am a victim”). This aligns perfectly with Dostoyevsky’s thesis.
- Theological Dimension: Repentance and Truth
“Pravda” (Truth/Truth) in Orthodox Christianity:
In the Russian tradition, truth is not an intellectual discovery, but a lived experience. The biblical story of Lazarus, which Sonya gives to Raskolnikov, symbolizes the resurrection from the dead.
Quote: “I am the truth” (John 14:6) – Truth can only be seen when it is purified from lies.
Dostoyevsky’s Jesus:
The Jesus figure (Myshkin) in The Idiot becomes a savior not so much by knowing the truth as by living a life without lies. This contradicts Nietzsche’s critique of the “will to truth.”
Burning Lies on the Path to Truth
This quote from Dostoyevsky demonstrates that self-knowledge is not a passive discovery, but an active process of purification. Just as Raskolnikov’s post-murder breakdown forces him to confront his true self…