Nietzsche and Russia. The struggle for individuality

"Our murky-gray history has unfolded in such a way that there was nothing to nurture a sense of one's own dignity, which would prompt one to disdainfully repel any filth," wrote N.K. Mikhailovsky (1842 - 1904), a Russian publicist, sociologist, and literary critic. He engaged in a sharp debate with F.M. Dostoevsky and other representatives of the 'narodnik' movement regarding Russian history and the peculiarities of Russian self-awareness. The 'narodniks' considered self-denial, leading to the complete oblivion of one's personality, readiness for suffering, and submission to fate as the main traits of the Russian people. According to Mikhailovsky, all of this diminishes and morally cripples a person, resulting in "nowhere can a scoundrel so conveniently commit his villainy a second and third time against the same weak, morally helpless people." Mikhailovsky extensively discusses 'heroes and the crowd,' the struggle for individuality, drawing on the works of Friedrich Nietzsche. The best works of N.K. Mikhailovsky are presented in this book.