The conversation Raskolnikov overheard six weeks ago is central to his justification for murdering such a person as Alyona Ivanovna. This conversation occurred at the same time that Raskolnikov was independently considering the same ideas. These ideas are not Raskolnikov's, nor Dostoevsky's, nor those of the two officers: Instead they are a synthesis of the German philosopher, Hegel (Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, 1770-1830).
The thesis of Hegelianism that applies here is an altruistic one in that (1) the old pawnbroker is an active, "harmful thing" and her murder will remove blight upon society. (2) This old pawnbroker has actually been involved in evil matters. (3) Her considerable money, rather than being wasted in a monastery on useless prayers for her horrible soul, can be used to save multiple families from destitution. (4) The person who murders her can then use the money and devote himself "to the service of humanity and the good of all." Therefore, "one tiny crime would be wiped out by thousands of good deeds." The Hegelian antithesis is very simple; that is, who will do the actual killing? If no one is willing to perform this murder, then "there's no justice about it."
