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Art-Philosopher Tradition:
- Both Dostoevsky and Hesse belong to an artist-philosopher tradition, not tied to specific philosophical schools.
- Focus on individual freedom, the search for values, and reality.
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Philosophical Fiction:
- Novels became a medium for philosophical speculation (Dostoevsky as a pioneer).
- Philosophy’s shift towards scientific tangibility leaves metaphysical and aesthetic questions to fiction.
- Fiction explores spiritual destiny and reality beyond objectification.
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Ivan Karamazov (Dostoevsky) vs. Harry Haller (Hesse):
- Both characters embody intellectualism, struggle with freedom, values, and the paradox of good and evil.
- Ivan succumbs to despair, rejecting God and reason, while Haller thrives, embracing chaos and Nietzschean freedom.
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Nietzschean Influence:
- Hesse’s works, especially Steppenwolf, share philosophical similarities with Nietzsche’s ideas of chaos, will to power, and rejection of traditional moral systems.
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Hesse’s Analysis of Dostoevsky:
- Hesse views Dostoevsky’s Karamazovs as embodying the paradox of good and evil.
- The Karamazovs reject Western moral values, symbolising a chaotic and dangerous new morality.
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Philosophical Dilemmas:
- Both Ivan and Haller confront the tension between reason and irrationality, ultimately finding traditional rational values inadequate.
- Ivan’s denial of God leads to destruction, while Haller’s journey through irrationality offers him insight and a form of redemption.
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Artist-Philosopher’s Unique Insight:
- Clive argues that artist-philosophers can explore aspects of reality beyond scientific verification, accessing hidden truths through fiction.
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Kierkegaard and Hesse’s Triadic Theory:
- Both thinkers present a triadic view of life, combining aesthetic, ethical, and religious experiences.
- Hesse’s “Third Kingdom” involves transcending despair and chaos to achieve harmony within the soul.
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Magical Thinking and Chaos:
- Hesse proposes that individuals must accept chaos to find spiritual balance, aligning with the metaphysical search for meaning.
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Multiplicity and Duality:
- Haller and Ivan’s struggles highlight the complexity of human existence, as they navigate multiple dimensions of reality and values.
- Ivan clings to reason, while Haller learns to embrace both rationality and irrationality.
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Dostoevsky’s Concept of Compassion:
- Compassion is central to Dostoevsky’s resolution of intellectual dilemmas, but Ivan rejects it, unable to reconcile it with his rational worldview.
- Haller’s discovery of humor and cosmic relativism marks a key difference from Ivan’s tragic end.
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Conclusion on Redemption and Self-Knowledge:
- Ivan is destroyed by his denial of faith and compassion, descending into madness.
- Haller, by contrast, begins a journey toward self-awareness, finding solace in the balance of opposites and the beauty of paradoxes, especially through music.