Arthur Schopenhauer
Born 22 February 1788 · Died 21 September 1860
Arthur Schopenhauer was a German philosopher known for his atheistic pessimism and philosophical clarity. At age 25, he published his doctoral dissertation, On the Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reason, which examined the fundamental question of whether reason alone can unlock answers about the world.
Schopenhauer's most influential work, The World as Will and Representation, emphasized the role of man's basic motivation, which Schopenhauer called will. His analysis of will led him to the conclusion that emotional, physical, and sexual desires can never be fulfilled. Consequently, he favored a lifestyle of negating human desires, similar to the teachings of ancient Greek Stoic philosophers, Buddhism, and Vedanta.
Quotes
“The effect of music is so very much more powerful and penetrating than is that of the other arts, for these others speak only of the shadow, but music of the essence.”
The World as Will and Representation, Chapter II “Talent hits a target no one else can hit; genius hits a target no one else can see.”
The World as Will and Representation “Wealth is like sea-water; the more we drink, the thirstier we become.”
Aphorisms on the Wisdom of Life, p. 347 “A reproach can only hurt if it hits the mark. Whoever knows that he does not deserve a reproach can treat it with contempt.”
Aphorisms on the Wisdom of Life “Two Chinamen visiting Europe went to the theatre for the first time. One of them occupied himself with trying to understand the theatrical machinery, which he succeeded in doing. The other, despite his ignorance of the language, sought to unravel the meaning of the play. The former is like the astronomer, the latter the philosopher.”
Counsels and Maxims
Quotes from Wikiquote (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Books by Arthur Schopenhauer in order
Books by Arthur Schopenhauer in the order they were published, from On the Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reason (1813) to El Arte De Hacerse Respetar (2019).
- 1On the Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reason
On the Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reason1813 - 2The World as Will and Idea
The World as Will and Idea1819 - 3Religion: A Dialogue
Religion: A Dialogue1851 - 4The Wisdom of Life
The Wisdom of Life1888 - 5Studies in Pessimism
Studies in Pessimism1890 - 6The Art of Literature
The Art of Literature1891 - 7Essays of Arthur Schopenhauer
Essays of Arthur Schopenhauer1892 - 8The Art of Controversy
The Art of Controversy1896 - 9Essays of Schopenhauer
Essays of Schopenhauer1897 - 10On Human Nature
On Human Nature1897 - 11The Basis of Morality
The Basis of Morality1903 - 12The Philosophy of Schopenhauer
The Philosophy of Schopenhauer1928 - 13On Women
On Women1931 - 14Essay on the Freedom of the Will
Essay on the Freedom of the Will1960 - 15The Essential Schopenhauer
The Essential Schopenhauer1962 - 16The Will to Live
The Will to Live1962 - 17Essays and Aphorisms
Essays and Aphorisms1970 - 18El arte de insultar
El arte de insultar2000 - 19El arte de tener razón
El arte de tener razón2001 - 20On the Suffering of the World
On the Suffering of the World2004 - 21The Art of Always Being RightThe Art of Always Being Right2004
- 22The Two Fundamental Problems of Ethics
The Two Fundamental Problems of Ethics2008 - 23El arte de tener siempre la razón
El arte de tener siempre la razón2015 - 24El Arte De Hacerse Respetar
El Arte De Hacerse Respetar2019