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Suffering, Suicide and Immortality: Eight Essays from The Parerga (The Incidentals)
One of the greatest philosophers of the nineteenth century, Arthur Schopenhauer is best known for his writings on pessimism. In this 1851 essay collection, he offers concise statements of the unifying principles of his thinking. Schopenhauer, unlike most philosophers, expressed himself in simple, direct terms. These essays offer an accessible approach to his main thesis, as stated in The World as Will and Representation.
Schopenhauer's reasoning encompasses the influence of the Upanishads and Buddhist teachings, as well as the works of Plato and Kant. His philosophy had an enormous impact on contemporary philosophy and literature, and on subsequent thinkers such as Nietzsche, Freud, and Wittgenstein. Published toward the end of his life in a collection called Parerga und Paralipomena, these essays include "On the Sufferings of the World," "On the Vanity of Existence," "On Suicide," " A Dialogue," "Further Psychological Observations," "On Education," "On Women," and "On Noise," plus "A Few Parables." They remain among Schopenhauer's most popular works, offering insights into his philosophy as a whole as well as the human condition.
Schopenhauer's reasoning encompasses the influence of the Upanishads and Buddhist teachings, as well as the works of Plato and Kant. His philosophy had an enormous impact on contemporary philosophy and literature, and on subsequent thinkers such as Nietzsche, Freud, and Wittgenstein. Published toward the end of his life in a collection called Parerga und Paralipomena, these essays include "On the Sufferings of the World," "On the Vanity of Existence," "On Suicide," " A Dialogue," "Further Psychological Observations," "On Education," "On Women," and "On Noise," plus "A Few Parables." They remain among Schopenhauer's most popular works, offering insights into his philosophy as a whole as well as the human condition.
- GenresPhilosophyNonfiction
112 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
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220 people want to read
About the author
Arthur Schopenhauer
1,944 books5,903 followersArthur Schopenhauer was born in the city of Danzig (then part of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth; present day Gdańsk, Poland) and was a German philosopher best known for his work The World as Will and Representation. Schopenhauer attempted to make his career as an academic by correcting and expanding Immanuel Kant's philosophy concerning the way in which we experience the world.
He was the son of author Johanna Schopenhauer and the older brother of Adele Schopenhauer.
He was the son of author Johanna Schopenhauer and the older brother of Adele Schopenhauer.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 22, 2013
“Pleasure is never as pleasant as we expected it to be and pain is always more painful. The pain in the world always outweighs the pleasure. If you don't believe it, compare the respective feelings of two animals, one of which is eating the other.”
The dry, hilarious parts in the middle of such pessimism must have been intentional. I loved this.
The dry, hilarious parts in the middle of such pessimism must have been intentional. I loved this.
August 21, 2014
Oh Schopenhauer....where would we be without you. Eternally pessimistic. Flagrantly contradictory. I just love him. That said, "On Women" is ridiculous but I forgive him (not only for time/context but also) because of "On Noise"
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September 13, 2024The ‘On Women’ chapter.. well I wasn’t expecting anything else..
The rest of the book was fine.
The rest of the book was fine.
February 12, 2010
not all of this book is good. i did enjoy "on women," it is really funny, not to be taken seriously in this day and age of "liberation."
also, "further psychological observations," is quite full of witty comments.
the essay, "on noise," is a must read for anyone who finds screaming babies, alarms / sirens, teenage chatter, etc. unbearable for concentration.
the rest i could take or leave.
also, "further psychological observations," is quite full of witty comments.
the essay, "on noise," is a must read for anyone who finds screaming babies, alarms / sirens, teenage chatter, etc. unbearable for concentration.
the rest i could take or leave.
February 12, 2011
awesome !! ini macam baru la buku
December 14, 2015
Good and interesting quick read, although I wish the dialogue on immortality was longer. This is the first work I've read by Schopenhauer, so unsure if he's written more on the subject elsewhere.
April 5, 2014
Definitely worth a read. Schopenhauer is pessimism personified. Love it.
January 14, 2022
He had me well engaged until the chapters towards the end on Women and Noise.
"There are people, it is true—nay, a great many people—who smile at such things, because they are not sensitive to noise; but they are just the very people who are also not sensitive to argument, or thought, or poetry, or art, in a word, to any kind of intellectual influence. The reason of it is that the tissue of their brains is of a very rough and coarse quality. On the other hand, noise is a torture to intellectual people."
This quote in particular seems to contradict much of what is argued for in the other essays in this collection. An arrogant turn - as what's noise to one person may be another's "music". Perhaps this thought relies on what was a primitive understanding of the brain in the day. It also stinks of elitism and the smelling of one's farts, but Arthur wasn't perfect. A man of his times at the end of the day. When illiteracy was the way for the common folk and he obtain his educated status through lucky privilege.
I do find him to be delightful in these essays, overall. Comedic even. I just don't know that this adds much of any importance to a modern discussion on these matters. But they are interesting essays, nonetheless. And a quick read.
"There are people, it is true—nay, a great many people—who smile at such things, because they are not sensitive to noise; but they are just the very people who are also not sensitive to argument, or thought, or poetry, or art, in a word, to any kind of intellectual influence. The reason of it is that the tissue of their brains is of a very rough and coarse quality. On the other hand, noise is a torture to intellectual people."
This quote in particular seems to contradict much of what is argued for in the other essays in this collection. An arrogant turn - as what's noise to one person may be another's "music". Perhaps this thought relies on what was a primitive understanding of the brain in the day. It also stinks of elitism and the smelling of one's farts, but Arthur wasn't perfect. A man of his times at the end of the day. When illiteracy was the way for the common folk and he obtain his educated status through lucky privilege.
I do find him to be delightful in these essays, overall. Comedic even. I just don't know that this adds much of any importance to a modern discussion on these matters. But they are interesting essays, nonetheless. And a quick read.
February 25, 2018
I can't see how he was a philosopher. Strongly held opinion is not philosophy. He might have an outlook on things utterly different from his contemporaries, but much of what he had to say was unsubstantiated and poorly developed. Perhaps we are living in a time where cynicism and cranky misogyny is more normalized and commonplace, thus not shocking, as would have been in his time. As he saw no purpose of the corn flower, his claims were quite ignorant and baseless. In modern time, he would not be considered as a serious philosopher, he would probable be doing stand-up comedy with a routine similar to that of Lewis Black.
It might be a hasty judgement on my part, since I have not read his other works. But this first introduction to him failed to inspire me to look further into his 'philosophy'.
It might be a hasty judgement on my part, since I have not read his other works. But this first introduction to him failed to inspire me to look further into his 'philosophy'.
January 24, 2019
The 19th-century writing is dated at times, but I've really enjoyed reading this.
Perhaps found it a bit too funny, I don't think the master of pessimism would approve, but then again he didn't live in an age of nihilist memes :p
The fifteen-page rant on women is maybe a little much though, spouting stance only found in the ideals of fundamentalist religionists these days, who take even more primitive writings way too seriously, and as usual, it's hard to tell when he's being serious or just joking.
Anyway, if this was published as some sort of commercial to read his "Die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung" then I guess it worked, as I'm definitely interested in reading more Schopenhauer, and will probably be ordering his most prominent work sometime.
Perhaps found it a bit too funny, I don't think the master of pessimism would approve, but then again he didn't live in an age of nihilist memes :p
The fifteen-page rant on women is maybe a little much though, spouting stance only found in the ideals of fundamentalist religionists these days, who take even more primitive writings way too seriously, and as usual, it's hard to tell when he's being serious or just joking.
Anyway, if this was published as some sort of commercial to read his "Die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung" then I guess it worked, as I'm definitely interested in reading more Schopenhauer, and will probably be ordering his most prominent work sometime.
April 10, 2022
"In the same way great mental suffering makes us insensible to bodily pain; we despise it; nay, if it should outweigh the other, it distracts our thoughts, and we welcome it as a pause in mental suffering. It is this feeling that makes suicide easy; for the bodily pain that accompanies it loses all significance in the eyes of one who is tortured by an excess of mental suffering"
an interesting and readable book, it isn't essential to have a strong philosophical basis to be able to understand it, since Schopenhauer explains it simply and clearly.
I find especially interesting his approach to suicide, education and immortality itself, can relate a lot.
an interesting and readable book, it isn't essential to have a strong philosophical basis to be able to understand it, since Schopenhauer explains it simply and clearly.
I find especially interesting his approach to suicide, education and immortality itself, can relate a lot.
January 3, 2020
Interesting, thought provoking, and mostly on the money. The only weak essay was 'on women' which, despite the time it was written, was a little disappointing in its prejudice. However, the rest of the book being so strong, I had to give it 5 stars.
And I have to add that Schopenhauer is extremely refreshing compared to some of the charlatans of today who spout all that light and fluffy, 'be positive', 'work hard' BS
And I have to add that Schopenhauer is extremely refreshing compared to some of the charlatans of today who spout all that light and fluffy, 'be positive', 'work hard' BS
February 3, 2023
A nice introduction to pessimism and questioning the norm. The chapter on women is outdated and misogynistic - however, the chapter on education can parallel the chapter on women. Schopenhauer poses the idea of forming your own thoughts and opinions based on your inner knowing versus based on what you have learned from the outside world. A short read if you are interested in philosophical pessimism.
June 26, 2024
a problem with schopenhauer is that the way he loosely connects his ideas logically is extremely fatal which can simply twist whatever’s the central idea underneath the paragraphs. and on women is highly offensive to women but then i think it kinda just portrays the degree of misogyny in europe, and it just makes his ideas harder to be seen in a more objective lens.
January 30, 2020
“On Women” aside, which is—how to put this—a painful reminder of the patriarchal and sexist thought processes that was so prevalent during the centuries preceding our own, this book was a delight to read.
June 22, 2023
On the Sufferings of the World- 4.5 Stars
The Vanity of Existence- 4 Stars
On Suicide- 4 Stars
Immortality: A Dialogue- 3 Stars
Further Psychological Observations- 3.5 Stars
On Education- 4 Stars
On Women- 2.5 Stars
On Noise- 3.5 Stars
A Few Parables- 3 Stars
The Vanity of Existence- 4 Stars
On Suicide- 4 Stars
Immortality: A Dialogue- 3 Stars
Further Psychological Observations- 3.5 Stars
On Education- 4 Stars
On Women- 2.5 Stars
On Noise- 3.5 Stars
A Few Parables- 3 Stars
October 8, 2023
mizoginistyczne biedactwo 🥹
November 28, 2023
He had me in the first half but that essay on women was a real miss.
October 7, 2025
What a funny man. 3.5/5
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews