A large, recurring theme in that novel is that, to truly live a life of goodness, you must know and acknowledge everything that the cynical man believes and decide, simultaneously, while acknowledging that, to love the world anyway.

Which isn't a theme exclusive to that novel. But look, "realistically" and "truthfully," in the real world, that's not the a good metric. People can be good yet still flawed, hold all sorts of dichotomies in themselves, in their thoughts, and in their behaviors without ever warranting titles such as "hypocrite" or "bad person."

I know people who want the best for their kids and go out of their way to try and give them every opportunity they can, but at the same time feel like supporting public schools so other kids can have similar opportunities shouldn't be their responsibility. I know people who are kind, generous, and charitable, and extremely concerned for the happiness and the well being of people in their lives, but at the same time argue against social safety net programs. I know people who have very strong sense of right and wrong and do their best to live by those ideals, but are quick to judge and condemn anyone who can't keep pace with them.

Even those with the kindest of hearts and the best of intentions and who want nothing but good things for the world and the people in it have their flaws, short comings, and blind spots.

Dostoevsky is allowed his world view. I bet it's complex and compelling, I bet it's poetic. But I don't think it reflects reality. People are good, not because they choose to be in times of convenience or in times of adversity, but because they want to be. That's the true metric. Everything else is circumstance. It's up to each of us, both as individuals as well as collectively, to do what we can to help empower others to be good, to do the right thing. Hence the Catch 22.