The underground Man's Philosophy
This is the state of doing nothing due to being overly aware of everything
Conscious inertia
The Underground Man desires isolation but also craves this
Human connection
The Underground Man believes humans sometimes choose this even at the cost of suffering
Free will
He embarrasses himself by attending a party hosted by this person
Zvertov
The Underground Man believes that suffering is the origin of this mental state
Consciousness
Despite despising societal norms, he's preoccupied with how others view him in this context
Social interaction
He sees society's belief in rational progress as a metaphorical barrier, calling it this
A crystal palace
He gives an impassioned speech to this woman, urging her to quit her job
Liza
He rejects this 19th-century philosophy that tries to make human desires align with logic
Utilitarianism
He insists intelligent people should be miserable but also takes pride in this
His own intelligence
He refuses to see a doctor for his liver pain as a rejection of this principle
Rational self-interest
He tries to help Liza but ultimately insults her by giving her this
Money
The Underground Man argues that humans act against their own best interests to prove this
Free will
He mocks the idea of logic but fixates on a simple decision involving a soldier in this location
The park
The Underground Man’s commitment to making irrational choices contradicts the idea that people are naturally inclined to do this
Self-improvement
He resents social hierarchies but is obsessed with his right to do this when passing a soldier
Not stepping aside