CONCEPTUALIZATION OF THE PARAMETERS OF THE CONCEPT “SOUL” IN THE WORKS OF F.M. DOSTOEVSKY

Abstract

The article examines the fundamental concept “soul” in the works of Fyodor Dostoevsky, based on his books “The Karamazov Brothers” and “The Idiot” as the object of the study. The relevance of the topic stems from the lack of sufficient research on the fundamental concepts of Russian linguistic culture. The article aims to identify the parameter of “soul size” as it is presented in Dostoevsky’s works, thereby expanding the description of one of the fundamental concepts of Russian linguistic culture. The primary research method is contextual analysis of the use of keywords for the concept, obtained through continuous sampling method. In Dostoevsky’s works, the physical parameters of the soul are correlated with the value aspect and are measured by people’s actions and thoughts. According to Dostoevsky, people’s souls can have different “sizes.” The human soul can be high and low, broad and narrow. The Russian soul is distinguished by its particular breadth. The breadth of the Russian soul is manifested in its simultaneous ability to do the biggest good while simultaneously striving for vile, filthy deeds. This breadth of the Russian soul is also evident in its desire for unbridled joy and revelry. According to Fyodor Dostoevsky, acts aimed at caring for others and associated with an unwavering faith in God are considered magnanimous. Conversely, selfish acts, a refusal to believe in God, and an inability to accept the harsh truth of life are considered ignoble. The article convincingly shows that F.M. Dostoevsky’s works reflected the moral and spiritual essence of man with all its contradictions. The article also emphasizes that F.M. Dostoevsky uses such an expression as “spiritual kingdom”, emphasizing the multidimensionality of this concept. As a result, it can be stated that F.M. Dostoevsky is the author who most fully reflected in his works the breadth and inconsistency of the Russian soul. The obtained results contribute to the construction of a holistic Russian-speaking picture of the world.