"Man-God" And "God-man"

This dissertation discusses Dostoevsky’s two ideas:"man-God" and "God-man" These two ideas reflect Dostoevsky’s two kinds of philosophy of life under religious and moral crisis in the 19th century. In the 19th century Russia went through the period of collision between the western modern science and the traditional Orthodox Church. The contradiction between science and religion has been embedded clearly and specifically in Dostoevsky’s works. He described predicament in his works, at the same time searched for a way to go out of it. Based on the interpretation of Dostoevsky’s works and relevant materials, This dissertation explores the concept of "man-God" and "God-man" from the viewpoint of philosophy.Firstly, this dissertation analyzes the background and meaning of "man-God" and "God-man". "Man-God" and "God-man" represent two kinds of conflicting images in Dostoevsky’s works. "God-man" devoutly believes in God, and consciously practices the law of God in the world; "man-God" denies the existence of God, takes himself as God and wants to legislate for the world. "Man-God" and "God-man" represent the contradictory thoughts of two extremes in Dostoevsky’s works. Dialogue and confrontation between them give us a panoramic display of Dostoevsky’s ideas, and reflect Dostoevsky’s thought about the existence of God, free will, value judgment and moral choice and other issues, and also reflects his complex and contradictory attitude on good and evil, God and the devil, Christ and anti-Christ, faith and reason. Secondly, this dissertation discusses the theoretical foundation of the idea of "man-God", its consequences and Dostoevsky’s criticism of it. "Man-God" holds that reason can not prove the existence of God, and the evil and suffering in the world is the evidence denying the existence of God. After denying God, "man-God" further deny morality. He believes that there is no God and everything is reasonable. In order to be God and to prove that he is omnipotent, he tends to behave extremely and thus result in tragedy, such as autism, suicide or murder. The last two sections discuss the theoretical basis of "God-man", as well as its value and significance in Dostoevsky’s thought. This idea makes man associated with God. Dostoevsky believes that this idea provides man unlimited possibilities for his transcending himself. Humanity and divinity unify in man, and faith in God and faith in man finally align with the idea of "God-man". The movement towards God manifests man’s dignity.