Nikolai Chernyshevsky

Nikolai Chernyshevsky was a 19th-century Russian philosopher, writer, and revolutionary thinker. He is best known for his influential novel, *What Is to Be Done?*, which promotes ideas of social reform, education, and the importance of rational thought. Chernyshevsky was also a critic of tsarist Russia’s autocratic rule and advocated for progress through scientific and moral development. His work inspired many future socialists and revolutionaries, making him a key figure in Russia’s intellectual history. Despite his imprisonment and exile, his ideas continued to influence debates on societal change and the pursuit of equality.