Reading Recommendation: Arthur Schopenhauer

By Published On: September 23rd, 20261.2 min read
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Arthur Schopenhauer was a German philosopher who lived in the 18th century and was Hegel’s contemporary.  Although the school of philosophy he belongs to is formally called “Pessimism” – no one should let that keep them away from reading his works, as he is profoundly observant, honest, and decent.

Letter from Johanna Schopenhauer to her son Arthur Schopenhauer, dated 6 November 1807

‘You are not an evil human; you are not without intellect and education; you have everything that could make you a credit to human society. Moreover, I am acquainted with your heart and know that few are better, but you are nevertheless irritating and unbearable, and I consider it most difficult to live with you.

All of your good qualities become obscured by your super-cleverness and are made useless to the world merely because of your rage at wanting to know everything better than others; of wanting to improve and master what you cannot command. With this you embitter the people around you, since no one wants to be improved or enlightened in such a forceful way, least of all by such an insignificant individual as you still are; no one can tolerate being reproved by you, who also still show so many weaknesses yourself, least of all in your adverse manner, which in oracular tones, proclaims this is so and so, without ever supposing an objection. If you were less like you, you would only be ridiculous, but thus as you are, you are highly annoying’.

 

 

FRANZ KAFKA

Shall they say of me that at the beginning of my trial I wanted to end it, and now, at its end, I want it to begin again? I don’t want them to say that. I’m grateful they’ve sent these half mute insensitive men to accompany me on this journey and that it’s been left to me to say myself what needs to be said.