Arthur Schopenhauer
(1788.Feb.22~1860.Sep.21)
"Compassion is the basis of all morality."
This quote highlights Schopenhauer's belief in the importance of empathy and kindness towards others.
He argued that the ability to feel compassion separates humans from other animals and is the foundation of all ethical behavior.
Schopenhauer believed that the pursuit of individual desires and goals often leads to conflict and suffering,
and that compassion and altruism offer a way to escape this cycle.
He saw compassion as a means of transcending the individual ego and connecting with others, leading to a more fulfilling and harmonious existence.
In his philosophy, Schopenhauer emphasized the importance of treating others with respect and understanding,
and saw compassion as a fundamental aspect of what it means to be human.
"The two enemies of human happiness are pain and boredom."
This quote expresses Schopenhauer's belief that pain and boredom are the greatest obstacles to happiness.
He believed that our desire for pleasure and avoidance of pain is a fundamental part of our nature and that these desires drive much of our behavior.
However, he also saw that the pursuit of pleasure is often short-lived and can lead to boredom and that pain is an inevitable part of life.
Schopenhauer believed that pursuing happiness is a constant struggle between these two enemies and that true happiness is difficult to achieve.
He saw life as a cycle of desire and suffering and argued that the only way to find true peace and contentment is to break out of this cycle through a kind of spiritual detachment from the world.
In this quote, Schopenhauer points out that pain and boredom are ubiquitous experiences in human life and that overcoming them is a constant challenge.
Despite his pessimistic outlook, his ideas continue to influence philosophy and have helped shape our understanding of the human condition.
"Will to Live."
Schopenhauer saw the Will to Live as a blind, unconscious force that drives all living beings, including humans, to pursue life and avoid death.
He believed this drive is the source of all striving, ambition, and conflict in the world and the root cause of human suffering.
However, Schopenhauer saw the Will to Live not just as a source of suffering but also as a source of creativity and artistic expression.
He believed that the Will to Live manifests in artistic inspiration and that the greatest works of art are expressions of the universal will to live.
In this way, Schopenhauer saw art as a means of transcending the individual ego and connecting with the universal Will to Live.
He believed that through the contemplation of art, we can experience a kind of transcendent insight into the nature of existence and gain a deeper understanding of our place in the world.
This idea of the Will to Live and its connection to art is central to Schopenhauer's philosophy and continues to be an influential and widely discussed aspect of his work.
