Essays and Aphorisms

Name: Essays and Aphorisms
Brand: Penguin Books Ltd
SKU: 9780140442274
Price: 26.0 NZD
Availability: InStock

By Arthur Schopenhauer

4.17

( 8,462 ratings, 372 reviews)

Summary

Essays and Aphorisms by Arthur Schopenhauer presents a collection of his profound reflections on life, art, ethics, and human nature. The book explores themes such as the nature of reality, the meaning of existence, and the human condition through Schopenhauer's incisive and often pessimistic lens. This work provides deep philosophical insights mixed with wit and sharp observations.
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Format: Paperback / softback

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Essays and Aphorisms

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might like this book if you enjoy deep philosophical insights and thought-provoking reflections on human nature, society, and the intricacies of life. Schopenhauer's sharp wit and profound observations offer a unique perspective that challenges conventional thinking and invites readers to explore complex ideas with clarity and precision.

Essays and Aphorisms

A selection of Schopenhauer's writings on religion, ethics, politics, women, suicide, books and other themes taken from his last work, "Parerga and Paralipomena". It depicts humanity as locked in a struggle beyond good and evil, and each individual absolutely free within a Godless world, in which morality and self-awareness are our only salvation.

Description

Delve into the profound and thought-provoking world of Essays and Aphorisms by Arthur Schopenhauer, one of the most pivotal figures in nineteenth-century philosophy. Schopenhauer explores a variety of themes in this collection, providing profound insights into religion, ethics, politics, the nature of women, and much more. Rather than being driven by reason, Schopenhauer posits that human actions are compelled by 'will'—a blind and irrational force driving our very existence.

This compilation draws from Schopenhauer's Parerga and Paralipomena, his final significant work published in 1851. Throughout these essays and aphorisms, Schopenhauer paints a picture of humanity as entangled in a relentless struggle that transcends conventional notions of good and evil. In his view, each individual exists in a godless world, where art, morality, and self-awareness serve as the only means of redemption and salvation.

Schopenhauer’s pioneering and often bleak perspective left an enduring mark on both philosophy and the arts. His ideas significantly influenced notable thinkers such as Friedrich Nietzsche and Ludwig Wittgenstein, among others. Through this juxtaposition of innovatory thoughts and disheartening realism, Essays and Aphorisms continues to challenge and inspire modern-day scholars and enthusiasts of philosophical discourse.

Schopenhauer's intricate exploration of the human condition, punctuated by his sharp wit and unflinching honesty, offers a provocative journey into the depths of existential inquiry. He unravels complex ideas about self-awareness, the futility of desires, and the ultimate quest for meaning in a seemingly indifferent universe. Essays and Aphorisms is not just a collection of writings but a mirror reflecting the inner workings of the human mind and spirit in their rawest form.

Experience the enduring legacy of Schopenhauer's thought in Essays and Aphorisms, a work that remains as influential and relevant today as it was in the nineteenth century, continuing to shed light on the intricacies of human existence and the perpetual search for truth and understanding.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Essays and Aphorisms by Arthur Schopenhauer is praised for its profound insights into human nature, pessimism, and philosophy. Readers commend its clarity and Schopenhauer's wit, finding it thought-provoking and reflective. Some critiques mention the occasional dense prose but overall appreciate its lasting intellectual impact.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780140442274

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 26 August 1976

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

Translated by R. J. Hollingdale

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 15.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 191g

Pages: 256

Collections

Arthur Schopenhauer New at Book Hero Non-Fiction Philosophy & Psychology Philosophy & Stoicism

About the Author

Arthur Schopenhauer was born in Danzig in 1788 where his family, of Dutch origin, owned a respected trading house. Arthur was expected to inherit the business, but hated the work and in 1807, after his father's suicide and the sale of the business, he enrolled in the grammar school at Gotha. He went on to study medicine and science at Gottingen University and in 1810 began to study philosophy. In 1811 he transferred to Berlin to write his doctoral thesis, and began to write The World as Will and Idea, a complete exploration of his philosophy, which was finished in 1818. Although the book failed to sell, his belief in his own views sustained him through twenty-five years of frustrated desire for fame. During his middle life he travelled widely in Europe and in 1844 brought out a much expanded edition of his book, which after his death became one of the most widely read of all philosophical works. His fame was established in 1851 with the publication of Parerga and Paralipomena, a collection of dialogues, essays and aphorisms. He died in 1860. R.J. Hollingdale has translated works by, among others, Schopenhauer, Goethe, T.A. Hoffmann, Lichtenburg and Theodor Fontane, as well as eleven of Nietzsche's books, many for the Penguin Classics. He has published two books on Nietzsche and was Honorary President of the British Nietzsche Society until his death in 2003.