Schopenhauer

This innovative volume presents an insightful philosophical portrait of the life and work of Arthur Schopenhauer. Arthur Schopenhauer's reputation as a cynic and a misanthrope often obscures the humanity and complexity of his philosophy. In this innovative volume, Robert Wicks breaks away from the accepted oversimplification of Schopenhauer as an incurable pessimist, to present an insightful portrait of his life and work. Beginning with a look at his early life and the circumstances and people that shaped his thinking, the book situates Schopenhauer’s philosophical writings within the context of these formative years. It examines Schopenhauer’s aesthetic and moral theories, his affinity toward Asian mysticism and Christianity, as well as his ideas about asceticism, the sublime, consciousness, empathy, humanity, and "Will". The volume focuses on the composition and structure of Schopenhauer’s philosophy and concludes by exploring his intellectual links to Hegel, Nietzsche, and Wittgenstein. An essential resource for students and scholars of aesthetics and nineteenth-century philosophy, this is an important introduction to a unique and influential thinker. This innovative volume presents an insightful philosophical portrait of the life and work of Arthur Schopenhauer. Focuses on the concept of the sublime as it clarifies Schopenhauer's aesthetic theory, moral theory and asceticism Explores the substantial relationships between Schopenhauer's philosophy and Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity Defends Schopenhauer's position that absolute truth can be known and described as a blindly striving, all-permeating, universal "Will"; Examines the influence of Asian philosophy on Schopenhauer Describes the relationships between Schopenhauer's thought and that of Hegel, Nietzsche, and Wittgenstein.