In This Scene from Dostoevsky's the Brothers Karamazov, Ivan Karamazov

question 15

Multiple Choice

In this scene from Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov, Ivan Karamazov explains to his pious younger brother, Alyosha, a Christian monk, why he cannot accept God. Ivan's impediment to full devotion to God is the problem of evil. He declares that there is untold, unfathomable suffering in the world-suffering such as that of a little child who is tortured, mutilated, and murdered by a ruthless general for no reason. God allows this suffering, but no adequate justification or explanation can be given why God would permit such evil.
-Ivan says that he cannot and will not accept

• A) God.
• B) God's grand scheme of higher harmony through suffering.
• C) God's punishment of guilty adults.
• D) God's kind treatment of children.

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Definitions:

James-Lange Theory

A theory of emotion suggesting that emotions occur as a result of physiological reactions to events, where the emotional experience is secondary to the physical reaction.

Bodily Changes

Physical alterations or developments in the body that occur due to growth, aging, or health conditions.

Carroll Izard

A psychologist known for his contributions to the understanding of emotions and their development in humans, particularly in children.

Basic Emotion

Fundamental emotions that are universal across human cultures, such as happiness, sadness, fear, disgust, surprise, and anger.