In Dostoyevsky's The Brothers Karamazov, two of the brothers, Dmitri (also called Mitya) and Alexei (Alyosha), are discussing the existence of God. Dmitri has been listening to a young man who professes to be an atheist, and has been impressed. “Rakitin explained it all to me yesterday, brother, and it simply bowled me over,” Dmitri says. Yet one thing bothered him. "What will become of men then, without God and immortal life?” he had asked Rakitin. “All things are lawful then; they can do what they like?" Rakitin laughed this off. "A clever man can do what he likes," he said.
Useful fictions?
Useful fictions?
Useful fictions?
In Dostoyevsky's The Brothers Karamazov, two of the brothers, Dmitri (also called Mitya) and Alexei (Alyosha), are discussing the existence of God. Dmitri has been listening to a young man who professes to be an atheist, and has been impressed. “Rakitin explained it all to me yesterday, brother, and it simply bowled me over,” Dmitri says. Yet one thing bothered him. "What will become of men then, without God and immortal life?” he had asked Rakitin. “All things are lawful then; they can do what they like?" Rakitin laughed this off. "A clever man can do what he likes," he said.