Freedom as a burden (Fodor Dostoevksy, The Brothers Karamzov) Flashcards
What is the story of the Grand Inquisitor?
Story of the head of the Spanish Inquisition and a man thought to be Jesus Christ. If you did not follow the rules of the church, you were punished. The Grand Inquisitor restricted the freedom of the people. When the ‘christ-like’ figure showed up and performed miracles, he was arrested and sentenced to death. The Grand Inquisitor asked Jesus why he gave people the choice between good and evil. The Grand Inquisitor believes that man needs someone like him to make them do good because people would always choose evil in the end. He says that Jesus doesn’t understand the burden of freedom he placed on humans.
The paradox of life and the choice of freedom.
What are the three temptations of Christ?
The Inquisitor reminds Christ of the time, recorded in the Bible, when the Devil presented him with three temptations, each of which he rejected. The Grand Inquisitor says that by rejecting these three temptations, he guaranteed that human beings would have free will.
- To turn stones into bread to relieve his hunger
Physical need (life) - To jump from the highest point of the temple and be saved by the angels
Need for meaning (purpose) - To worship satan in exchange for the rule over all the kingdoms of the world
Need for community.
Christ’s responses to the three temptations emphasize the importance of man’s ability to choose between right and wrong, while the Inquisitor’s interpretation of Christ’s actions emphasizes the greater value of living a comfortable life in which the right path has already been chosen by someone else.
Why did Christ refuse to surrender to the “wild spirit”?
Christ rejects all three temptations so that all humans can be free. He rejected all of these temptations because he wanted man to freely follow him (instead of being won over by bread, dazzled by miracles, or coerced by earthy power).
Why does the grand inquisitor think that freedom is a burden to humans?
Freedom is a burden to people because it is what will condemn them. If tempted enough, man will choose evil over good everytime. Thus, it is freedom that limits the people from being christ-like.
What is the solution that the Grand Inquisitor proposes to human suffering?
He believes that the church must correct this mistake of freedom by enforcing security. When people are forced/given security, they will not have to choose evil over good. And since ‘evil’ will not win, human suffering will end because people will not be condemned for choosing wrong.
