Schopenhauer, Religion and Morality: The Humble Path to Ethics

Ashgate New Critical Thinking in Philosophy

by Gerard Mannion

Revising his doctoral dissertation for Oxford University, Mannion (U. of Leeds, England) examines, and challenges when he finds it necessary, the association of German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) with the will, pessimism, suffering and misery, and atheism. In particular, he fills a gap he finds in the recent revival of interest in him, by exploring his moral philosophy and the relationship of his work to religion and theology. He suggests that Schopenhauer is neither the absolute pessimist nor the nihilistic atheist portrayed in textbooks, and that he interpreted religion rather than rejecting it outright. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

328 pages, Hardcover

Published November 6, 2003