| World as Will & Idea (Everyman's Library (Paper)) | 
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Sales Rank: 288714
Category: Book
Author: Arthur Schopenhauer
Publisher: Everyman Paperbacks
Studio: Everyman Paperbacks
Manufacturer: Everyman Paperbacks
Label: Everyman Paperbacks
Format: Abridged
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Edition: Abridged
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 336
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5 x 0.9
ISBN: 0460875051
Dewey Decimal Number: 193
EAN: 9780460875059
ASIN: 0460875051
Publication Date: May 1, 1995
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Part of the "Everyman" series which has been re-set with wide margins for notes and easy-to-read type. Each title includes a themed introduction by leading authorities on the subject, life-and-times chronology of the author, text summaries, annotated reading lists and selected criticism and notes.
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| Customer Reviews:
Fabulous book, amazing introduction May 22, 2008
I have returned to this everyman edition of this book many times over the years...nearly every passage is underlined in a different color pen. I don't have much to add to what the other reviewers have said, except that if you are interested in reading Schopenhauer, I would *definitely* get this edition of the book. It is very readable, and the introduction by David Berman is *wonderful*...it concisely puts Schopenhauer's ideas in context, and it also provides an enlightening introduction that will inspire you to read on, augmenting the accessibility of this already very accessible version.
Enjoy!
The "Buddha of Frankfurt" April 30, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Truth be told, I came to Schopenhauer's work reluctantly, having been put off by Nietzsche, who - despite an early infatuation with Schopenhauer - later turned against his "mentor" (of sorts) claiming his work lacked any ethical applicability.
Yet, as an avid reader of Buddhist and Western philosophical texts, I found myself repeatedly drawn towards Schopenhauer through various resources. So after putting my prejudices aside, I went to the text itself, and I have to say, I consumed this volume with great enthusiasm: I find Schopenhauer to be one of the clearest, most articulate philosophers in the Western tradition (not unlike a Zen master). His work is, in a word, genius.
OK, sure, the "Buddha of Frankfurt" (his nickname) was no saint, but then again, who is? If you ask me, Schopenhauer's thinking is not to be "followed" as such, but rather, "understood," as I find his quiet reserve inspirational and his attempts at personal fulfillment through ART to be wise and sagely advice.
Personally, I found that The World as Will and Idea reminded me of Richard Dawkins' The Selfish Gene. We are, it seems, reproduction machines. (I also think the fledgling terms Id and Ego might be brought into play as well.)
Finally, I must concur with Schopenhauer's university philosophy professor, G.E. Schulze, who told the young thinker to stick with ONLY Plato and Kant. But to that small list I would now add one more name: Arthur Schopenhauer, as he brilliantly merges the thought of Plato and Kant to form a truly original philosophy - and he does so in a much clearer way than, say, Hegel or any other German Idealist might have. That said, I think it is helpful to have read some Plato and Kant before dipping into this text, as I found - and perhaps this is a petty gripe, I dunno - that the introduction by Dave Berman was, unlike Schopenhauer's fine prose itself, dull, unhelpful and, ultimately, uninspiring.
I highly recommend this text for both beginners and experts in the field -it is THAT good...and it just might change your whole perspective, if not your way of life. Amazing!
Schopenhauer's great work abridged September 30, 2005
15 out of 15 found this review helpful
This is a really excellent and readable version of Schopenhauer's seminal work. Any abridgements are very judiciously made, so that none of the essential ideas are left out. The introduction is excellent, and the translation very coherent and easy to follow. It is one of the most engrossing of philosphical primary texts, much easier to understand than Kant, and the presentation and translation are excellent. Anyone with an interest in philosophy, especially in the period of 19th Century philosophy from Kant to Nietzche, will find it indispensable.
More than just a bridge between Kant and Nietzsche May 8, 2005
21 out of 21 found this review helpful
Often Schopenhauer does not receive the same respect as other German philosophers such as Kant, Hegel and the now incredibly popular Nietzsche.
Admittedly he is neither as difficult as Kant, nor as easy to read as Nietzsche. His style is not as charming as Nietzsche's and not as complex as Kant's.
He remains however one of the most influential philosopher's of modern times, who influenced people as widely as Friedrich Nietzsche, Richard Wagner, Thomas Mann and Sigmund Freud.
Most notably, Nietzsche has taken much of his ideas from Schopenhauer, partially the 'will to power' can be retraced back to him, though it has to be said that Nietzsche drew different conclusions from similar thoughts.
His philosophy was grounded firmly in Plato's ideas, however he wrote very much in support of the new world Kant had opened up for philosophy with his idealism, which he however critiques in "The World as Will and Representation", too.
Schopenhauer is often referred to as the ultimate pessimist, both being atheist and thinking that since will which can never be utterly fulfilled, will lead to endless suffering, being frustrated as soon as it gains actual target by just creating a new hurdle/ something to gain. As such, he thinks that the will/ desire will inevitable always lead to suffering.
Schopenhauer sees in what he describes 'the denial of the will to live' in asceticism the answer. The only escape Schopenhauer sees is within art, more precisely within music, which has lead in the 20th century to people like Adorno and Horkheimer, and the Frankfurt school to adapt many of his thoughts.
In my opinion Schopenhauer's World as Will and Representation is an 'attainable' book, even for people who have given up on Kant, Hegel or Heidegger. Not being a philosophy student myself, I first had to get a certain knowledge of Kant in order to fully understand it. I cannot critique the translation, simply because I have only read the book in German.
Schopenhauer's style is not only digestible, but being written in prose, it's even partially humorous, mostly witty and almost completely free of complex philosophical jargon.
I count this book amongst the best I have ever read, and can only recommend it to anyone. I don't even find it very pessimistic, rather romantically- realistic.
the futility of willing May 22, 2000
34 out of 34 found this review helpful
For someone with no formal instruction in philosophy this is a very good book to begin with. Schopenhauer avoids the use of pretensious "philosophical" jargon and writes in a predominantly literary fashion. The main value in this book is its ideas. Its basic premis is simple, yet the range of topics that Schopenhauer delivers treatises on is quite astounding - art, gambling, contract theory, sexual love and ascetic renunciation, to mention but a few. Only a man of his genius could have found a thread to link these diverse topics together. One does, however, sense at times that he distorts his philospophical beliefs in order to express his revulsion about his least favourite types of human activity. I found the discussions on art the most insightful and rewarding. The book is a good dissection of the blind striving and willing of our world and has the potential to alter the way you view the nature of things.
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