![The World As Will And Idea: 3 vols in 1 [unabridged]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51BxwKDqi+L._AC_UL160_SR160,160_.jpg)
This is a great and rare book by a great and rare man. It’s a shame Schopenhauer died when he did, at the age of 72, in 1860, and just a year after an equally great and rare man, Charles Darwin, published another great and rare book, his “On the Origin of Species”. Schopenhauer undoubtedly would have revised some or maybe much of what he had written had he been familiar with Darwin’s book on evolution. Both men have been much praised and ridiculed over the years as it usually is when truth is praised above all else no matter how disturbing or disconcerting that truth might be. I praise Schopenhauer’s and Darwin’s honest and gutsy efforts to face the truth about life. Schopenhauer did so by way of philosophy and Darwin by way of science. Darwin’s contribution to human knowledge must be either accepted or rejected and it is generally accepted by lovers of science and rejected by fundamentalist Christians, and no matter how much evidence there is to support it.
Schopenhauer’s pessimistic philosophy was rejected by just as great a philosopher and genius, Friedrich Nietzsche, who was just 16 when Schopenhauer died. I don’t know just when Nietzsche read Schopenhauer but I suspect he was much impressed by the essential truth Schopenhauer said about life. And there’s much about life to be pessimistic about. I imagine Nietzsche agreed with much of Schopenhauer’s views but could not quite accept it all in toto.
The pronounced pessimist will always say there’s a cloud behind every silver lining while the “incurable” optimist, who cannot wholly and truthfully disagree with the pessimist, will add something just as truthful and profound and this is that behind that “cloud” there’s always another silver lining. So since it makes just as much sense when all is said and done to be an optimist as it does to be a pessimist, why not take the happier road and be an optimist? Even Schopenhauer says of happiness on page 200 of his “The World as Will and Idea”, “If the intervals between desire and its gratification are neither too short nor too long, the suffering caused by each are reduced to a minimum, and this makes for the happiest life.” This from Schopenhauer!
I sometimes suspect even Schopenhauer in his heart of hearts was not the total pessimist so many people make him out to be, and not just because he spoke of a “happiest life”. After all he loved music and loved to play the flute and loved all the arts. In his own special way he found his own special happiness in what he called thIs, “the worst of all possible worlds”.
Schopenhauer was a lover of the truth no matter how unpleasant that truth might seem to be, as was Darwin and Nietzsche as well. This is why I have such great respect and even love for these three great men and others like them, and even great women also, who seek the truth or something at least approaching the truth, above all else.
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club?
Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Flip to back
Flip to front
Follow the Author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
New releases
Explore popular titles in every genre and find something you love. See more
Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
-
Apple
-
Android
-
Windows Phone
-
Android
To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number.
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
What other items do customers buy after viewing this item?
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Customer reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2017
Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2015
Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2016
Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2014
Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2015
Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2016
Verified Purchase
Top reviews from other countries
Andrew Colgan
He’s not. At all. But his ideas are just brillIant.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 20, 2019Verified Purchase
Adele
Good
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 25, 2019Verified Purchase
Matthew Micarelli
Recommend.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 13, 2020Verified Purchase
ben betney
One of the greatest books person can own and read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 26, 2019Verified Purchase
Dr. H. A. Jones
Schopenhauer's greatest work
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 10, 2010Verified Purchase
