Fyodor Dostoevsky was a 19th-century philosopher born in Moscow, Russia. He was a profound thinker and believed by many to be the greatest writer of his time.

He grew up in a poor family, and his mother died when he was only 15. Shortly after, he joined the military and became an engineer. He spent several years in the military until he was found to be a member of a group discussing banned books that criticized Tsarist Russia. He was arrested and sentenced to death. However, his sentence was reduced, and he was then sentenced to 4 years in a Siberian Labor camp. During his time in the labour camp, he developed a deeper understanding of life, our purpose, an understanding of suffering, and the pursuit of a virtuous and meaningful existence.

Dostoevsky strongly believed in moral virtues, love, compassion, and one's sense of meaning. He strongly believed that compassion was the key law to human existence.

He emphasized the importance of self-growth and aspiration to become great for oneself. Seeking admiration of greatness to obtain approval from others is a superficial and materialistic view of the world. One that will show no true satisfaction of oneself if not for the right reasons. Never let social status or pride be a driving factor in our pursuit to know, understand, or be more.

He thought that taking ourselves too seriously and living too deeply in our own minds can prevent us from truly appreciating the world and life as it is. It is important for all of us to understand that we do not understand.

Finding balance between rationality and emotional drive was another contributing factor in his philosophy. Failure to balance between both can have devastating effects on the outcomes of our decisions.

Living life to the fullest without any preconceived notions of the type of life we should live as portrayed by society is the primary method of finding peace. We should all embrace all experiences and emotions that we are privileged to feel.

His ideology, concepts, and perception of life provided a significant contribution to existentialism, in which he was a great influence in the world and ideology of Friedrich Nietzsche, as well as various other profound thinkers.

He spoke deeply on how moral corruption goes against our human instincts and creates inner torment, regardless of the punishment or lack of punishment endured. It is within our control and aspiration to be the best version of ourselves, the most virtuous and connected with humanity as a whole, that contributes strongly towards our introspection and search for happiness.

Evil is dormant within all of us, embedded in the human condition, and through our inability to maintain a virtuous life, we become susceptible to these imbalances and evil shows its face. He believed that by default, we are actually all evil, and it is through actively suppressing these desires that we find solitude, balance, and peace in our lives.

Fyodor Dostoevsky was a thoughtful and strong-minded individual. His understanding of the balance between suffering and pleasure is profound. Through our acceptance that one cannot be without the other, it is an important lesson, and learning to enjoy all aspects of life, including suffering, can contribute strongly to our search for meaning, purpose, fulfillment, and happiness.

Thanks,

Dean