Civilization #53: Dostoevsky and the Soul of Russia

Why did Putin invade Ukraine? In this lecture to his Beijing high school students, Jiang Xueqin explains that the war in Ukraine is a clash of civilizations. In his novels "Crime and Punishment" and "Brothers Karamazov" Fyodor Dostoevsky captures and expresses the Russian soul. As a Christian Orthodox people, the Russians believe the meaning of life is to accept the mystery, miracle, and authority of the human heart. This contrasts with Anglo-American civilization, which proposes a utilitarian and materialistic conception of the universe. References: 1. "Anna Karenina" by Leo Tolstoy 2. "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoevsky 3. "Brothers Karamazov" by Fyodor Dostoevsky