One may wonder how could a book promising inherent suffering as the core of our existence and trying to console us by recommending an acceptance of suOne may wonder how could a book promising inherent suffering as the core of our existence and trying to console us by recommending an acceptance of such suffering warrant a five star review. Here’s my brief justification
1) For me, Schopenhauer is a great writer. I don’t know how perfect the translation is but I’ve always found his writings to be translated in a quiet clear, enjoyable manner. This leads me to believe the original contains the same concise style. He stays relatively on track without unnecessary detours and uses enough examples to convey his ideas
2) His concept of the will-to-live doesn’t have to be negative. He of course runs with it in a pessimistic way, but we saw other philosophers such as his predecessor, Nietzsche, twist it into a more positive light of will to power. We all experience this inner nature within our human condition for striving, becoming, and desiring. This can lead to suffering and frustration as Schopenhauer vividly details, but it’s also what leads humans to growth, innovation, and happiness
3) His referencing and interpretations of religion were quite interesting. He certainly did not detail the beliefs of Christianity, Buddhism, or Hinduism perfectly, but the way he wove them into his explanation of the world was helpful. Comparing his denial of the will to asceticism was illuminating for me.
All in all, I (like most) do not agree with or love Schopenhauer’s pessimist view of the world, yet I found the book valuable and I could follow his logic fairly coherently. Worth a read, especially if you want to understand Nietzsche and other thinkers more clearly...more
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