The chapter delves into a discussion on rejecting systems and embracing irrational desires to maintain individuality. It explores the tension between determinism and free will, delving into objections against human behavior being compared to simple arithmetic. The speakers analyze Dostoevsky's 'Notes from Underground', discussing the concept of embracing the absurd and the defiance against rational norms.
We’re sick men. We’re spiteful men. We’re unpleasant men. We think our livers are diseased (especially Tamler’s). So we talk about Dostoevsky’s wild, complex, stream of consciousness masterpiece Notes From Underground. For this episode we focus on part 1 of the novella, and the philosophy behind it. Is the underground man an existentialist hero affirming his freedom in the face of a deterministic hyper-rationalist worldview? Or is he a lonely man consumed with guilt and self-loathing, constructing a pretentious post-hoc rationalization of his character and behavior? Plus, the American Psychological Association just issued guidelines for how to treat men who embrace traditional masculine ideologies. Is the backlash justified?
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