Active Love as Principle of Education: Dilemma of Freedom from Dostoevsky’s Perspective

The ideological connection between Kant and Dostoevsky is confirmed by the fact that both men were interested in establishing the ideas of ‘freedom,’ ‘immortality of the soul,’ and ‘God’ as conditions of human existence and morality. In particular, both are identical in that they seek to rescue the Idee of ‘immortality of the soul’ and ‘God’ using ‘freedom’ as the foundation. However, while Kant emphasizes ‘transcendental freedom’ and ‘practical freedom’ established through philosophical demonstration, Dostoevsky emphasizes ‘freedom of the beginning’ and ‘freedom of the end’ revealed through narrative dialogue. This difference is actively embodied in his many works, especially in The Brothers Karamazov. Ivan in The Brothers Karamazov can be understood as a character who represents the dangers and limitations of Idee established through philosophical demonstration. The Brothers Karamazov, written as a refutation of Ivan’s argument, can be interpreted as a work that presents an alternative. The Brothers Karamazov can be understood as a work that exemplifies the ‘metapraxis perspective’ in that it shows that the description of the process of finding the true meaning of Idee can directly explain and convey Idee. Idee derived through philosophical demonstration denies the two semantic elements of metapraxis, ‘the principle of circularity’ and ‘the standpoint of personal participation’ and as a result, the Idee has no choice but to end up as an ideology, not an Idee. Idee can be established starting from the answerability of enduring evil and suffering here and now, and the realization of Idee is freedom.