On the Study of Philosophy: A New Reader's Edition
The Collected Works of Arthur Schopenhauer Book 20 · Leo Press
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About this ebook
"Schopenhauer is the last great Western philosopher who could still think metaphysically." Heidegger Arthur Schopenhauer's "On the Study of Philosophy," published in 1820, is a central text in his philosophical corpus that critiques modern approaches to philosophical education and understanding. In this essay, Schopenhauer argues against the prevailing academic philosophical methods of his time, which he saw as overly systematic, abstract, and disconnected from genuine philosophical inquiry. He believed that many academic philosophers were more interested in constructing elaborate philosophical systems than in pursuing deep philosophical understanding, criticizing what he perceived as a tendency to create difficult intellectual structures that obscured rather than illuminated basic philosophical truths. The essay emphasizes Schopenhauer's conviction that true philosophical study requires a direct, intuitive approach that transcends mere academic formalism. He advocates for philosophy as a deeply personal and transformative intellectual pursuit, one that should illuminate the basic nature of human existence and provide genuine observations into the human condition. Unlike his contemporaries who viewed philosophy as an abstract intellectual exercise, Schopenhauer saw it as a means of comprehending the underlying metaphysical realities of life, with a particular focus on understanding human will, suffering, and consciousness. His viewpoint challenged the dominant Hegelian philosophical traditions of his era, proposing instead a more introspective and phenomenological approach to philosophical investigation. Schopenhauer's text also is a passionate defense of philosophical thinking as a critical human endeavor, distinct from scientific or purely rational modes of understanding. He argues that philosophy should not be reduced to a mere academic discipline but should function as a deep method of comprehending human experience in its most basic dimensions. By giving attention to the weight of individual philosophical reflection and critiquing institutional approaches to philosophical education, Schopenhauer laid groundwork for existentialist and phenomenological traditions that would emerge in later philosophical movements. For On the Study of Philosophy, this modern translation from the original German manuscript breathes new life into Schopenhauer's historically major manuscript. Schopenhauer, generally speaking, has been accessible only to academics and serious lay philosophers, yet his philosophy is critically major to understanding the more famous philosophers of the 20th century, most notably Nietzsche. For On the Study of Philosophy, this new Reader's Edition introduces Schopenhauer's original work in setting, with an afterword explaining his philosophic project, the historical mileau he exists within, and his impact on the modern world. For On the Study of Philosophy, this is accompanied by a timeline of his life and works, an index of philosophic terminology he uses, and a short biography.
"Schopenhauer is the last great Western philosopher who could still think metaphysically." Heidegger Arthur Schopenhauer's "On the Study of Philosophy," published in 1820, is a central text in his philosophical corpus that critiques modern approaches to philosophical education and understanding. ...
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About the author
Arthur Schopenhauer (1788 to 1860) was a German philosopher known for The World as Will and Representation. His writing treats perception, causation, human desire, ethics, aesthetics, and the relation between individual experience and the will.
Arthur Schopenhauer (1788 to 1860) was a German philosopher known for The World as Will and Representation. His writing treats perception, causation, human desire, ethics, aesthetics, and the relation between individual experience and the will.
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