Arthur Schopenhauer was a prominent German philosopher during the 19th century. Known as the philosopher of pessimism, he distinguished himself from post-Kantian philosophers with his unique take on idealism, free will, and human nature. Adherents of his philosophy believe that he superseded Immanuel Kant himself, the father of German idealism, who he simultaneously admired and critiqued. Coming from a complementary scientific and philosophical academic background, Schopenhauer tremendously influenced canonical scientists, psychologists, and philosophers.
Businessman or Philosopher?
Arthur Schopenhauer was born in Danzig in 1788 as the eldest son of a wealthy German family. His sister, Adele, was born 9 years later. As the only son, he was groomed by his father, Heinrich Schopenhauer, from a very young age to take over the family business. When he was only 9 years old, his father sent him to northern France for two years with his business associate Grégoire de Blésimaire. Heinrich wanted him to learn French and introduce him to different cultures to prepare him for a future in international commerce. When Arthur turned 15, his father took him on a 3 months business trip throughout Europe and introduced him to his business partners abroad. Arthur deeply regretted this trip due to how it impacted him academically.
The Seeds of Pessimism
Two years after they returned from their business trip, his father drowned in a canal close to their house. His mother, Johanna Schopenhauer, believed that her husband’s death was not accidental but a suicide. Heinrich suffered from depression and anxiety all his life and his mental health severely deteriorated before he died. Arthur inherited his father’s wealth, but also his deep suffering. He experienced painful mental states since he was a child and had a dysfunctional relationship with his mother.
While his pessimism is integral to the intricate philosophical system he would develop later in his life, we must acknowledge that Arthur was a child of suffering. The heritage of his family’s mental health and the traumatic experience of losing his father could not have left him unaffected. Our perspectives are molded by our experiences, particularly during our formative years. Far from invalidating his philosophy, acknowledging the seeds of his pessimism animates his theories and grounds them in a real, rather than an abstract, perception of reality.
The Fusion of Philosophy and Science
In 1809, Schopenhauer enrolled in the University of Göttingen to study medicine. His interest in natural science was possibly influenced by Goethe, whom he met at the parties his mother organized after his father’s death and deeply revered. Two years later, however, he decided to transfer to the University of Berlin to study philosophy, where he attended lectures by prominent philosophers such as Johann Gottlieb Fichte, a famous post-Kantian thinker. In 1813, he completed his doctoral degree at the University of Jena, the most prestigious university in Germany where the school of German Idealism flourished.
His dissertation, On the Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reason, laid the groundwork for the development of his philosophy and he continuously referred to it as the prerequisite to understanding his other works. The dissertation gained Goethe’s attention and the two corresponded for several years, developing Goethe’s theory of colors.
After graduating, Schopenhauer dedicated the next four years to writing the first volume his magnum opus, The World as Will and Representation – a book that masterfully fused his scientific background with his treatment of German Idealism. By that time, his mother was a bestselling novelist. Although she found his works complicated and incomprehensible, she put him in touch with her publisher at the Brockhaus publishing firm. In a rageful response to her criticism, he told her that her novels were ‘rubbish’ and that only his work would be remembered.
Although this is precisely what happened, Brockhaus initially saw nothing valuable in the young philosopher’s manuscript and the book made very poor sales after its publication in 1818. Brockhaus later confessed that he only published it to gain the favor of his mother, who was one of their bestselling authors. Ironically, Schopenhauer’s books are what eventually sustained Brockhaus’s reputation.
Rising to Fame: Schopenhauer’s Career as a Philosopher
In 1820, Schopenhauer started lecturing at the University of Jena alongside Hegel, whom he called a ‘clumsy charlatan’. He was repulsed by Hegel’s lack of scientific knowledge and attempted to engage him in a public debate. Unfortunately, only a few students showed up to his lectures, leading him to forego his career in academia. He later published an essay critiquing academia called On University Philosophy. After leaving Jena, Schopenhauer focused on developing his philosophy and published On the Will in Nature in 1836, a book that aimed to ground his theories in science. Two years later, he submitted his famous essay, On the Freedom of the Will, to the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences contest and won first prize.
In 1944, he published the second volume of The World as Will and Representation where he presented an in-depth exploration of his theory of the world as Will – a theory through which he critiqued and dethroned Immanuel Kant’s view of the noumenal world. Although he did not succeed in gaining the attention of other philosophers, his prolific publications attracted numerous followers. In 1851, Schopenhauer published his first bestseller, Parerga and Paralipomena, which consisted of supplementary essays to his two-volume magnum opus. The book was a great success largely due to the positive reviews written by his disciples, which allowed him to gain recognition and popularity in prestigious academic circles and universities.
Continuous Legacy
Arthur Schopenhauer died on the 21st of September in 1960. Although Schopenhauer didn’t receive due recognition for most of his life, his works have influenced many key figures who have shaped our understanding of the world today. Namely, his theory of the will to live has influenced Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution and Sigmund Freud’s theory of the libido. Friedrich Nietzche also praised Schopenhauer’s pessimism in The Birth of Tragedy and Untimely Meditations. In The World As I See It, Albert Einstein directly quotes Schopenhauer’s discussion of free will.
Aside from being an inspiration to all these great thinkers, Schopenhauer completely revolutionized the development of German Idealism. Today, his works continue to influence thinkers across the world with their original and brilliant insights.
