Arnold Schopenhauer - Philosophy and Happiness
Arnold Schopenhauer (1788-1860)
German philosopher (pictured right)
The only great Western philosopher to understand Eastern philosophy.
Who did he influence?
Friedrich Nietzsche,
German philosopher (pictured right)
Albert Einstein, German-born American
scientist.(pictured right below)
Sigmund Freud, Austrian
psychiatrist
His most famous book
is...
The World as Will and Idea (1819).
It is also referred to as the World as Will and Representation.
What did he say about philosophy and happiness?
1. Life is difficult
Schopenhauer believed that life is horrible, which is why he is sometimes called the
“philosopher of pessimism”.
We suffer from the:
- guilt and anxiety from the past.
2. Give up your desires
Schopenhauer took this idea from Gautama
Buddha (pictured right), believing that to be happy you must stop
desiring things like sex and material possessions.
Unfulfilled desires make you unhappy.
Self-denial is the only way to avoid suffering.
3. Enjoy nature and the arts
Happiness is found in peacefully contemplating the beauty and wisdom of nature and the arts (like music)
4. Will
Will is a striving to do something that affects our actions.
This can be conscious and unconsciouus
“Motives are causes experienced from within”, he said.
Schopenhauer's emphasis on the unconscious had a big influence on Sigmund Freud (pictured right)
5. Compassion
To be good and happy, you should be kind to:
- people (being sensitive to their feelings and sharing yours)
- other living creatures (he was one of the first animal rights campaigners).
6. Know yourself
Be aware of your limitations so you can do something about them.
“For our improvement, we need a mirror”, Schopenhauer said.
Key quote on stress and
pain
Life is given us, not to be enjoyed, but to be overcome.
Key quotes on
ethics
Fame is something which must be won; honour is something which must not be lost.
Compassion is the basis of all morality.
Key quote on objectives and
vision
Every man takes the limits of his own vision for the limits of the world.
Key quote on
motivation
Motives are causes experienced from within.
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