Essays and Aphorisms (Penguin Classics)

Arthur Schopenhauer wrote his essays and aphorisms in the financial hub city of Frankford, Germany during the mid-nineteenth century, a world where business owners and financiers ruthlessly competed against one another to amass fortunes, clerks chained to their desks toiled twelve hours a day, uneducated day laborers ground themselves down into faceless, mindless cogs of the urban wheel, and upper class ladies strolled the streets with parasols as they chattered incessantly over petty concerns - but, no matter what one's station in life - ruthless financial baron, toiling clerk, chattering lady or manual drudge - the monotonous hum of this bustling society gave few people encouragement or mental space to think independently or reflect philosophically. But no hustle and bustle for Arthur. Inheriting the family fortune and thus freed from any obligation to work for a living, Schopenhauer became a life-long bachelor and independent scholar, keeping his distance from other people as if they were a colony of doltish, novel-reading lepers. And, thus, after rousing in the morning and before playing the flute, partaking of lunch, and going for his two hour walk with his pet poodle, Schopenhauer sat at his desk, completely dedicating his time to writing. And this collection is Schopenhauer at his hyper-arrogant best, as self-appointed genius and highbrow aesthete, shooting verbal barbs and passing harsh judgment on everyone and everything in sight - would-be philosophers, journalists, bookworms, scholars, literati, historians, women, among numerous others. This book is great literature as well as original philosophy, the writing is so incredibly clear, crystal clear, actually - a straightforward, easy-to-follow, elegant prose. What a switch from hopelessly dry, turgid, stale academic philosophy with its endless references, footnotes and qualifications. On the topic of books and writing, here is a quote which is vintage Schopenhauer: "The thoughts a man is capable of always express themselves in clear, comprehensible and unambiguous words. Those who put together difficult, obscure, involved, ambiguous discourses do not really know what they want to say: they have no more than a vague consciousness of it which is only struggling towards a thought; often, however, they also want to conceal from themselves and others that they actually have nothing to say." Keep this in mind the next time you read an incomprehensible piece of writing - in truth, the burden is on the writer to make their thoughts clear, no matter how impressive the author's credentials. Among the topics address is aesthetics. As always, Schopenhauer never dances around an issue but goes right to the heart of the matter and tells it like it is. Here is what he has to say on opera: "Strictly speaking one could call opera an unmusical invention for the benefit of unmusical minds." For anybody with a keen interest in listening to music, these words have a very honest ring. Here is a quote that is especially appropriate to our current age of information: "Students and learned men of every kind and every ago go as a rule in search of information, not insight. They make it a point of honor to have information about everything . . . When I see how much these well-informed people know, I sometimes say to myself: Oh, how little such a one must have had to think about, since he has had so much time for reading!" The truth of this statement is compounded with the omnipresence of the internet. One more quote, this one capsulizing Schopenhauer's famous pessimistic view of life: "No rose without a thorn. But many a thorn without a rose." Even if you don't agree, you have to admire a brilliant, memorable metaphor. If you are new to Schopenhauer or philosophy, R. J. Hollindale provides an introduction which includes a mini-history of philosophy leading up to Schopenhauer, the cultural, literary and social context of Germany in the nineteenth century, as well as a mini-biography of Schopenhauer. This will be all you will need to have a rich appreciation for one of the most lucid and influential philosophers in the Western tradition.

The best introduction to the influential pessimist of the 19th century. Well introduced & translated, it’s a challenging read.

This is not a selection of AS's works but rather a selection from a single work, PARERGA AND PARALIPOMENA (1851), though AS makes reference therein to his major work, THE WORLD AS WILL AND REPRESENTATION. The book is divided into 'essays' and 'aphorisms', though some of the essay sections contain subdivisions that are quite brief and some of the aphorisms sections extend to essay length. While AS is a significant philosopher the writing here is very accessible (if not commonplace in its attitudes). AS is often characterized as a dark and pessimistic thinker but he is nonetheless interesting and engaging in his points of view. The introduction by R.J. Hollingdale is very helpful in placing this work in the larger contexts of its times, of AS's life and the totality of his oeuvre. He is a master of the bon-mot. Two examples: "If you want to know how you really feel about someone take note of the impression an unexpected letter from him makes on you when you first see it on the doormat" (p. 171). "Great minds are related to the brief span of time during which they live as great buildings are to a little square in which they stand: you cannot see them in all their magnitude because you are standing too close to them" (p. 226). While many commentators warn readers about AS's gloominess I find him somewhat uplifting. He never shies away from saying what he believes. He talks about subjects that other philosophers might hesitate to discuss and when the times are trying he reinforces the feelings about the world and its inhabitants which you are trying to resist. Several things to keep in mind: he idolizes Kant, is generally contemptuous of Hegel and he believes that his thought was never recognized in the manner which it deserved. The latter feeling undergirds a number of his trenchant, pungent and engaging comments on the world of literature, letters and philosophy. A familiarity (even a brief one) with AS's thought is an essential part of one's philosophic education.

This is one of the better books that I've read. Do not be worried if you are unfamiliar with Metaphysics, the book has an introduction which really introduces you to the author and the topics discussed. If you have no background in philosophy (like me) you'll be fine. The book is great because it is simply a collection of a smart man's thoughts. You can learn a lot really quickly since most of them are short and to the point. He covers many different topics that are not touched today like Women and Suicide. You won't agree with everything that is written, but you will be presented with a different perspective. (which is the point of the book)

This edition of his larger work, Parerga and Paralipomena, is phenomenal. The writing is extremely easy to understand for anyone. This book can and will change your life and perspective on why things are the way they are. I will say, though, do not read this book and expect a politically correct take on everything. Man will always be a product of his environment and time period, but truth remains untouched and can only be tapped into temporarily by people of all eras. Look for the truth.

great

Schopenhauer has a very rare quality; he gets straight to the point. Most authors of philosophy, stretch their ideas out over hundreds of pages. Schopenhauer presents his ideas in a straight forward, meat and potatoes fashion. The reader may not agree, with everything Schopenhauer has to say. Religious people will find his view on religion, to be very offensive. Schopenhauer is also, an in your face misogynist. Yet he also delivers some very interesting insights on; ethics, politics, the law, books, individuals, and society. The material content has been reviewed by other readers. I won`t bother adding to the list. I will say that Schopenhauer is a pleasure to read. I also give his essays and aphorisms the highest recommendation.

Excelente libro, la edición me gustó mucho aunque la letra e impresión podrian ser mejores. No tenia plastico protector por lo que tenia algunas orillas raspadas.

The book and the packaging were great but the font to put it politely is just odd but once you get used to it its great

book arrived 1 day later, but its all good, thank you!