Arthur Schopenhauer, A Brilliant Philosopher

Arthur Schopenhauer was one of the most brilliant philosophers of the nineteenth century. He was a great thinker, in addition to having a unique sense of humor.

Many consider him to be the greatest representative of philosophical pessimism. Others think of him as a realistic and outspoken thinker who revealed the least presentable aspects of reality and existence. In fact, he declared that life was simply not worth it. However, he announced this with the utmost elegance.

We think of Arthur Schopenhauer as the legacy of the philosophy of Kant and Spinoza. However, this wonderful philosopher was also interested in Eastern ways of thinking such as Buddhism, Taoism and Vedanta. From his ideas emerged universal approaches that are still valid today.

His childhood

Arthur Schopenhauer was born in Danzig (Poland) on February 22, 1788. His father, Heinrich Floris Schopenhauer, was a wealthy merchant. He led his son into the business world. His mother, Johanna Henriette Trosenier, was a social and outgoing woman who became a writer.

It was Johanna who organized literary evenings in their house. The most famous intellectuals of the time attended, including Goethe. Arthur was present at these meetings, but his melancholy and withdrawn personality prevented him from enjoying them. For this reason he had a rather difficult relationship with his mother.

When Arthur was five years old, the family moved to Hamburg. He began his private education there. The goal was for him to become his father’s successor in the business world. Needless to say, this never happened. Arthur had a sister who was nine years younger. However, he did not have a close relationship with her.

A new thinker

Arthur’s father wanted him to become a merchant. In 1805, at the age of 17, he began his education. That same year, however, his father died. Apparently he committed suicide. The family moved to Weimar, but Arthur remained in Hamburg. In 1809 he decided to leave the trade and enrolled in medical studies at the University of Göttingen.

While at university, Schopenhauer discovered several philosophers. In fact, he became passionate about reading them. In this way he discovered his true calling. He moved to Berlin in 1811 and began on several subjects in philosophy. He also studied philology, history and science. He eventually obtained a doctorate in philosophy from the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena in 1813.

He then returned to his mother’s home in Weimar. There he got the chance to enter into long conversations with Goethe. He had admired this philosopher throughout his life. He also admired Shakespeare, Homer and the writers of the Spanish Golden Age. In fact, he translated some of these works into German. He later moved to Dresden. It was there that he wrote his acclaimed book The World as Will and Performance. It was published in 1819.

A great thinker

The publication of this book identified Schopenhauser’s unique way of thinking. In fact, that was where his proverbial pessimism took shape. This was based on a premise. That we live in the worst of all possible worlds. He began to be seen as a skeptical thinker. In fact, he condemned human irrationality at a time when the myth of reason prevailed.

However, Schopenhauser’s thinking did not become cynical. Instead, he advocated a new ethic for compassion for “all that has life.” He defined art as the ultimate balm to alleviate all sorrows and meaninglessness in existence. Later he became famous all over the world for his aphorisms in which he stated that joy and pessimism are not mutually exclusive.

Basically, there was no interest in his work. In fact, it was destroyed due to lack of buyers. However, over the years he became one of the most famous thinkers. Even Richard Wagner sent him a signed copy of his opera, The  Ring of the Nibelung to express his admiration.

Schopenhauer was a contradictory thinker. He promoted vegetarianism but ate meat. In addition, he spoke to his dogs in several languages ​​and treated them like humans.

He contracted cholera and moved to Frankfurt, where he lived for more than two decades. In 1836 he published Über den Willen in der Natur (On the Will in Nature). He died in September 1860.