Arthur Schopenhauer

Arthur Schopenhauer Biography

Arthur Schopenhauer (February 22, 1788 – September 21, 1860) was a German philosopher best known for his work The World as Will and Representation. Born in Danzig (now Gdańsk, Poland), Schopenhauer was the son of Heinrich Floris Schopenhauer, a wealthy merchant, and Johanna Schopenhauer, a novelist and intellectual. The family moved to Hamburg in 1793 after Danzig came under Prussian control.

Schopenhauer received a broad education, studying in France and England, and was expected to follow in his father's footsteps as a merchant. However, after his father's death in 1805, he pursued academia, studying philosophy at the University of Göttingen and later at the University of Berlin. He was particularly influenced by the works of Immanuel Kant and Plato.

In 1818, Schopenhauer published The World as Will and Representation, where he introduced his concept of the will as the fundamental reality underlying the world of appearances. Despite the significance of his ideas, his work initially received little attention, leading to a period of frustration. It wasn't until later in life that his philosophy gained recognition, influencing thinkers such as Friedrich Nietzsche, Sigmund Freud, and Richard Wagner.

Schopenhauer's philosophy is often characterized by its pessimism, emphasizing the irrational and suffering aspects of human existence. He advocated for asceticism and the arts as means to transcend the will and achieve a form of salvation. Schopenhauer died in Frankfurt am Main in 1860, leaving a legacy that profoundly impacted various fields, including philosophy, psychology, and the arts.

Trivia About Arthur Schopenhauer

• Schopenhauer was an early proponent of Eastern philosophies in Western thought, integrating concepts from Buddhism and Hinduism into his work.
• He had a poodle named Atma, a term from Indian philosophy meaning 'soul'.
• Schopenhauer was known for his solitary lifestyle and had a strained relationship with his mother, Johanna, who was a well-known writer and salon host.
• He often carried a pistol for protection and had a deep fear of being poisoned.

Famous Quotes by Arthur Schopenhauer

• "All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident."
• "The world is my idea."
• "Compassion is the basis of morality."

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who was Arthur Schopenhauer?

Arthur Schopenhauer was a 19th-century German philosopher known for his pessimistic philosophy and the concept of the will as the underlying reality of the world.

What is 'The World as Will and Representation'?

It is Schopenhauer's seminal work, published in 1818, where he presents his philosophy that the world is driven by a fundamental will, leading to human suffering and the need for transcendence.

How did Schopenhauer influence later thinkers?

Schopenhauer's ideas on the will and human nature influenced existentialist philosophers like Nietzsche, psychoanalysts like Freud, and artists such as Wagner.

Related Literary Movements

Schopenhauer is associated with philosophical pessimism and had a significant impact on existentialism and psychoanalysis. His integration of Eastern philosophical concepts also contributed to the Western understanding of Buddhism and Hinduism.

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