Schopenhauer - Complete

Question 1

What is Schopenhauer’s critique of Kant? FIVE things.

Answer 1

There is a mind-independent reality.

Reality will be unaltered when humans die.

The thing-in-itself is not an object.

Thing-in-itself does not CAUSE our perceptions or sensations.

OBJECTIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ULTIMATE REALITY AND US.

Question 2

What are Schopenhauer’s THREE main conclusions about the ultimate reality?

Answer 2

1. NOT an object.
2. DOES NOT involve CAUSAL relations.
3. If reality not object, we can be part of reality.

Question 3

What are Schopenhauer’s two key ideas regarding individuality?

Answer 3

Increased individuality = increased conflict.

Decreased individuality = decreased conflict.

Question 4

According to Schopenhauer, how would one reduce the presence of individuation?

Answer 4

By reducing the significance of space and time.

Question 5

What are Schopenhauer’s three ways to detach from the world of space and time?

Answer 5

1. Aesthetic.
2. Moral.
3. Ascetic.

Question 6

What is Schopenhauer’s ‘Aesthetic Experience’?

Answer 6

Experience of beauty.

Question 7

What is Schopenhauer’s ‘Moral Experience’?

Answer 7

Experience of Compassion.

Question 8

What is Schopenhauer’s ‘Ascetic Experience’?

Answer 8

Experience of will-less-ness (OR denial-of-the-will).

Question 9

What TWO things does Schopenhauer think should MINimised?

Answer 9

1. Awareness of space and time (and causality).

2. Number and intensity of one’s desires as an individual.

Question 10

What ONE thing does Schopenhauer think should be MAXimised?

Answer 10

Awareness of universality.

Question 11

What does the ‘INDIVIDUAL level’ contain, according to Schopenhauer?

Answer 11

Individual subjects and objects;

World of daily life in SPACE and TIME, with violence, desires, suffering etc.

Question 12

What does the ‘UNIVERSAL level’ contain, according to Schopenhauer?

Answer 12

Universal subjects and objects;

OBJECTS: Platonic ideas (‘immediate objectifications’ of will).

SUBJECTIVITY: A ‘selfless’ self (character of one’s awareness when understanding Platonic ideas).

Question 13

What is the aim of the Aesthetics?

Answer 13

‘Raise ourselves’ from the INDIVIDUAL level of awareness TO the UNIVERSAL level of awareness.

Question 14

What are the THREE general steps for Schopenhauer’s ‘Aesthetic Experience’?

Answer 14

1. consider an object - what it is.
2. They start to see more timelessly and spacelessly to the objects ‘Universal Essence’/’Platonic Idea’.
3. From individual level to universal level.

Question 15

What does ‘tat tvam asi’ mean?

Answer 15

This art thou

Question 16

At the highest levels of Schopenhauer’s moral awareness, what does one apprehend themselves as?

Answer 16

The TORMENTOR and the TORMENTED.

Question 17

At the highest levels of Schopenhauer’s moral awareness, what does one empathise with?

Answer 17

All the guilt AND all of the suffering that has even transpired.

Question 18

Why is it that when you “say ‘yes’ to life, that you affirm tremendous, unbearable suffering”?

Answer 18

According to the true nature of things, everyone has all the sufferings of the world as his own’

At the ‘Highest level’ of Moral Awareness.

Question 19

Why does Schopenhauer CRITICISE OPTIMISM that the world id moving towards a peaceful goal that will JUSTIFY all the previous suffering?

Answer 19

Because everyone takes on the worlds sufferings, as thou they are their own.

Question 20

What is the unexpected result of compassion, according to Schopenhauer?

Answer 20

A man, recognising in all beings his own true and inner most self, must regard the endless sufferings of all that lives as his own, and THUS TAKE UPON HIMSELF THE PAIN OF THE WHOLE WORLD.

Question 21

Schopenhauer asks the question: how could one ‘affirm’ or ‘say yes’ to this very life that is full or suffering and torment?

Answer 21

He answers: One cannot affirm life, given its morally repulsive quality.

Man turns to complete will-lessness. (ASCETIC)