Who is an Idiot! Dostoevsky’s or Else?

In the name of ALLAH, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Who is an Idiot! Dostoevsky’s or Else?

A comparison of the Title with literal meaning

The word "idiot" comes from the Greek noun ( ἰδιώτης ) idiōtēs 'a private person, individual' (as opposed to the state), 'a private citizen' (as opposed to someone with a political office), 'a common man', 'a person lacking professional skill, layman', later 'unskilled', 'ignorant', derived from the adjective ... and dictionary says "a foolish or stupid person"; "a person having an intellectual disability.

An "idiot" is generally understood as a foolish or senseless person, though the term has different uses and historical contexts. Informally, it's a rude insult for someone who has done something stupid. Historically, in psychology and medicine, it was an outdated and offensive clinical term for a person with a profound intellectual disability.

To understand literal meaning it can be said that "An Idiot" is an utterly foolish or senseless person. "If you think you can wear that outfit to a job interview and get hired, you're an idiot!" Examples of using the word "idiot" include self-deprecating phrases like "I felt like such an idiot when I forgot my keys," and insults such as "What idiot left the faucet running?" Idiots can also be portrayed in a story, like "The demon was an idiot, too unaccustomed to politics". The word Idiot has synonyms like numbskull, dunce, dolt, imbecile, half-wit, fool.

The idiots generally have very weak understanding skills because they do not have thinking habits or skills. You cannot make them do things by describing them or you will have a very hard time. They cannot understand difficult and especially abstract concepts.

All three words (moron, imbecile, and idiot) now function as general insults, and all three were formerly used as clinical terms to describe degrees of intellectual disability. The clinical use of each word is now considered dated and offensive.

With the introduction of the intelligence test, developed by Binet in France, and brought to this country by Goddard, it became an accepted practice to relate these three terms to specific I.Q. scores *—idiot for those scoring below 25; imbecile 25 to 50; and

moron 50-70/75. In modern digital age, it is "Internet Derived Information Obstruction Treatment (IDIOT).

What is the English name of the animal called 'idiot' in Nigeria? This is hedgehog not porcupine. Similarly in countries of South Asia; a fool or idiot is named as "donkey / gadha." A human is considered an idiot or foolish because the "foolish" people are self-involved, overly optimistic regarding their own views, and unable to see their own vulnerabilities. They assume they already know all that needs to be known. On the same level an idiot may be simple, silly, sensual, scornful, and steadfast fools.

Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky (November 11, 1821- February 9, 1881) was a Russian novelist and is regarded as one of the greatest novelists in both Russian and world literature. The Idiot is a novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky, which was published in 1869.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky's The Idiot is an immaculate portrait of innocence tainted by the brutal reality of human greed. The Idiot is about kindness and innocence in the world of cynicism and moral decay.

 The main character of Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel is Prince Myshkin called "The Idiot"; who was a good-hearted but naive young man. His purity and compassion are seen as "idiotic" by the cynical, materialistic world around him. In the novel "The Idiot" is living in a world corrupted by money and greed. "The Idiot" is facing a time when moral and religious values—along with social hierarchies and norms—are in flux, greed becomes a powerful force driving people's actions.

The main character of the novel "Idiot" Prince Myshkin is a clean-hearted, pious individual who speaks plainly about whatever he wants to say. He cannot even think of doing something bad to anyone and will forgive everyone. For that reason, people call him an idiot, thinking he does not know anything. "The Idiot" faces a sea of sick humans, both spiritual and physical.

In the novel "The Idiot" Fyodor Dostoevsky attempts to portray the ideal man—a "positively beautiful individual." Prince Myshkin; An "Idiot" from others perspective represents all the qualities Dostoevsky deems the best aspects of a human being. First, he is frank and open; and does not hide his true feelings behind a veneer of friendliness in order to gain something or to merely maintain appearances. The prince always says what is on his mind, regardless of whether it is perfectly appropriate for the social setting. Myshkin is very altruistic. Not only is he humble, but he is also very giving and compassionate. These seemingly perfect traits of man come into headlong collision with a corrupt world.

In Dostoevsky's view, the ideal man cannot bring good to society; but rather his own goodness is inverted and manipulated, leading to the destruction of both himself and his ideal. The ideal man enters a world of moral corruption and decay, with money as the object of principal importance; loses his mental balance. In this materialistic world, only money makes one a better human being. In the world of Dostoevsky's Idiot; beautiful, intelligent women are dishonored and consequently destroyed. High society is full of superficial nothings along with others. "The Idiot" is infinitely morally superior to the world he enters, his effect on this world is ultimately zero—a mix of positive and negative.

"The Idiot" Prince Myshkin describes religion as an immensely strong feeling similar to the joy God feels for His creation—a feeling he recognizes when he sees a young mother joyously nursing her baby. The idea that religion is a feeling rather than a set of rules; that one follows and shows immense compassion and love for others. In the world of sinners, "The Idiots" are needed morally and spiritually for representing the ultimate in selfless compassion. However, the failure of "The Idiot's" compassion to save those about whom he cares most, especially his beloved ones, may drive him to insanity.

 Fyodor Dostoevsky, like all other great writers keep a clear pulse of the society living in front of them and take a conscious view based on universal moral and ethical principles. The writings penned with conscious attempts of differentiating morality and immoral acts of human beings and how it shines and survives through times. Such novels as "The Idiot" will always reverberate through the reader's feelings and conscience and will be appreciated across all living societies. Such novel will always reflect the good and bad in any society or nation that is struggling through greed and corrupt practices.

 The Ultimate Truth and Power ALLAH conveys through His last Holy Book Quran; in Surah Yaseen, He describes the Ideal Human; by saying that:-

"When We sent unto them twain, and they denied them both, so We reinforced them with a third, and they said: Lo! we have been sent unto you". (14)

"(The people of the city) said: We augur ill of you. If ye desist not, we shall surely stone you, and grievous torture will befall you at our hands". (18)

"They said: Your evil augury be with you! Is it because ye are reminded (of the truth)? Nay, but ye are froward folk!" (19).

"And there came from the uttermost part of the city a man running. He cried: O my people! Follow those who have been sent!" (20)

"Follow those who ask of you no fee, and who are rightly guided." (21)

"For what cause should I not serve Him Who hath created me, and unto Whom ye will be brought back?" (22)

"Shall I take (other) gods in place of Him when, if the Beneficent should wish me any harm, their intercession will avail me naught, nor can they save?" (23)

"Then truly I should be in error manifest." (24)

The unfortunate truth of the history is that ALLAH, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful has been providing true guidance to human beings through continues chain of Holy Prophets and Holy Scriptures but a vast majority has always denied the "Truth" and followed the path of "Satan" and self-adulation (worshiping Nafs). It has been seen that most of human societies represent and exhibit the plot of the story in the novel "The Idiot" by Fyodor Dostoevsky. All the characters of the novel "The Idiot" can be found in the country called Pakistan today, which came into being after about seventy years of the death of Fyodor Dostoevsky.

In the materialistic world, one may be fool and idiot in literal terms, but should also be a "True Believer", a simpleton and may also be "The Idiot" in terms of Fyodor Dostoevsky Novel. However, one shall never be a wise man, a smart man, a genius; or an intellectual; who denies existence of ALLAH or treads on satanic ways and takes pride in material gains. A "True Believer" may be an "Idiot" for people of material world but he shall possess the true intellect and wisdom to reach the "Ultimate Truth" ALLAH as the only "Benefactor" and "Sustainer" of all and everything.