Essays and Aphorisms Author:Arthur Schopenhauer, R. J. Hollingdale (Translator) One of the greatest philosophers of the nineteenth century, Schopenhauer believed that human action is determined not by reason but by "will" -- the blind and irrational desire for physical existence. This selection of his writings on religion, ethics, politics, women and many other themes is taken from Schopenhauer's last work, ... more »>Parerga and Paralipomena, which he published in 1851. He depicts humanity as locked in a struggle beyond good and evil, each individual absolutely free within a Godless world in which art, morality and self-awareness are our only salvation. This innovative and pessimistic view proved powerfully influential upon philosophy and art, affecting the work of Nietzsche and Wittgenstein among others.
Introduction --
Essays: On the suffering of the world; On the vanity of existence; On the antithesis of thing in itself and appearance; On affirmation and denial of the will to live; On the indestructibility of our essential being by death; On suicide; On women; On thinking for yourself; On religion, a dialogue --
Aphorisms: On philosophy and the intellect; On ethics; On law and politics; On aesthetics; On psychology; On religion; On books and writing; On various subjects --