About “the Ugly Article of Chaadaev” and “the Stinking Bug Belinsky”: F. M. Dostoevsky and Westernism (Several Allusions and Reminiscences)

Abstract

The topic of the article is the internal dialogue of F. M. Dostoevsky with P. Ya. Chaadaev, which the author of «Teenager» and «Demons» conducted throughout his life. The question of the attractiveness of Chaadaev’s teaching, the importance
of its fundamental provisions, with which Dostoevsky oft en argued, and sometimes, believing them to be basic for himself, agreed, is considered. The key moments on which the thinker of younger generation conducted the polemic reflected on a worldview of his heroes are allocated.