Dostoevsky and the Soul of Russia

from Professor Jiang · host Predictive History

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 Tolstoy2. "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoevsky3. "Brothers Karamazov" by Fyodor DostoevskyPlease consider making a small donation here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/jiangprofessor

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published May 24, 2026

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