The Wisdom of Life and Counsels and Maxims

The Wisdom of Life and Counsels and Maxims PDF

Author: Arthur Schopenhauer

Publisher: Great Books in Philosophy

Published: 1995

Total Pages: 244

ISBN-13:

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Nineteenth-century German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) championed individual strength of will and independent, reasoned deliberation above the irrational impulses that animated most of society. In The Wisdom of Life and Counsels and Maxims, two essays from his last work, Parerga und Paralipomena (1851), he discusses how to order our lives to obtain the greatest amount of pleasure and success; then he offers guidelines for living life to its fullest. But for Schopenhauer a life well lived should always reach beyond itself to a higher plane.

Schopenhauer: the Wisdom of Life and Counsels and Maxims

Schopenhauer: the Wisdom of Life and Counsels and Maxims PDF

Author: Arthur Schopenhauer

Publisher:

Published: 2010-02-05

Total Pages: 168

ISBN-13: 9781450575904

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"Schopenhauer: The Wisdom of Life and Counsels and Maxims," by philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, offers a more accurate and realistic outlook on life than his student, Friedrich Nietzsche. While many disagree with Schopenhauer's renunciation of life, there is much to agree with in this book. Schopenhauer doesn't see a whole lot to celebrate in this vale of tears. His general view in "Schopenhauer: The Wisdom of Life and Counsels and Maxims," is summed up thus: Life is hell. Try to find a room furthest from the flames. If you tend towards a sunnier view of things then you're very likely to find this book by the grandmaster of philosophical pessimism unduly cynical. But if you've pretty much had it with the world and seldom meet a man (or woman) you wouldn't rather see the back of, you'll be delighted to find a fellow traveler and find wit and solace in Schopenhauer's acidic view of this "wonderful gift of life." Though riddled with hard-nosed realism and misanthropy, "Schopenhauer: The Wisdom of Life and Counsels and Maxims," is positively entertaining and enjoyable. Schopenhauer's style is fluid, prosaic, and imaginative, unlike most German philosophy. In lieu of modern world events, it is probably more relevant a work today than ever before. Schopenhauer discusses an array of subjects, such as the emptiness of those things commonly pursued by the masses (money, status/position, vanity, sensual pleasure, etc.), and those most commonly ignored by most (temperance, good health, character, individuality, and developing one's mind). Small, fleeting pleasures notwithstanding, Schopenhauer casts an unflinchingly jaundiced eye on the experience of human life and doesn't sweeten the pill. For its bracing honesty alone, this book deserves its reputation as one of the greatest philosophical manuals of how to best live our lives ever written.

Counsels and Maxims

Counsels and Maxims PDF

Author: Arthur Schopenhauer

Publisher: 谷月社

Published: 2015-11-22

Total Pages: 150

ISBN-13:

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If my object in these pages were to present a complete scheme of counsels and maxims for the guidance of life, I should have to repeat the numerous rules—some of them excellent—which have been drawn up by thinkers of all ages, from Theognis and Solomon[1] down to La Rochefoucauld; and, in so doing, I should inevitably entail upon the reader a vast amount of well-worn commonplace. But the fact is that in this work I make still less claim to exhaust my subject than in any other of my writings. [Footnote 1: I refer to the proverbs and maxims ascribed, in the Old Testament, to the king of that name.] An author who makes no claims to completeness must also, in a great measure, abandon any attempt at systematic arrangement. For his double loss in this respect, the reader may console himself by reflecting that a complete and systematic treatment of such a subject as the guidance of life could hardly fail to be a very wearisome business. I have simply put down those of my thoughts which appear to be worth communicating—thoughts which, as far as I know, have not been uttered, or, at any rate, not just in the same form, by any one else; so that my remarks may be taken as a supplement to what has been already achieved in the immense field. However, by way of introducing some sort of order into the great variety of matters upon which advice will be given in the following pages, I shall distribute what I have to say under the following heads: (1) general rules; (2) our relation to ourselves; (3) our relation to others; and finally, (4) rules which concern our manner of life and our worldly circumstances. I shall conclude with some remarks on the changes which the various periods of life produce in us.

The Essays of Arthur Schopenhauer; Counsels and Maxims

The Essays of Arthur Schopenhauer; Counsels and Maxims PDF

Author: Arthur Schopenhauer

Publisher: Good Press

Published: 2019-11-20

Total Pages: 150

ISBN-13:

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This book is a collection of essays by Arthur Schopenhauer, a German philosopher best known for his work 'The World as Will and Representation.' In this work, he characterizes the phenomenal world as the product of a blind noumenal will, building on the transcendental idealism of Immanuel Kant. Schopenhauer developed an atheistic metaphysical and ethical system that rejected the contemporaneous ideas of German idealism. Some of the titles include in this book are 'Care should be taken not to build the happiness of life' and 'Envy is natural to man; and still, it is at once a vice'.

Schopenhauer Collection

Schopenhauer Collection PDF

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 2021-05-02

Total Pages: 592

ISBN-13:

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This collection consists of 4 Arthur Schopenhauer's books: World as Will and Idea Volumes 1-3, Wisdom of Life, Counsels and Maxims, and The Art of Being Right

Counsels And Maxims

Counsels And Maxims PDF

Author: Arthur Schopenhauer

Publisher:

Published: 2024-04-13

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781835916001

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"Counsels and Maxims" is a collection of essays and aphorisms written by the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer. Originally published in 1851 as "Aphorismen zur Lebensweisheit" (Aphorisms on the Wisdom of Life), it offers profound insights into human nature, ethics, and the pursuit of a meaningful existence. In the book, Schopenhauer distills his philosophical thoughts into concise and thought-provoking passages. He explores a wide range of topics, including happiness, love, death, morality, and the nature of reality. Drawing from his studies in Eastern philosophy, particularly Buddhist and Hindu thought, as well as his own observations of human behavior, Schopenhauer presents a pessimistic view of life tempered with moments of profound wisdom and clarity. The aphorisms in "Counsels and Maxims" are characterized by their incisiveness and depth, offering readers timeless reflections on the human condition. Schopenhauer's writing style is concise yet powerful, and his ideas continue to resonate with readers seeking insights into the complexities of existence. Overall, "Counsels and Maxims" serves as a philosophical guidebook for navigating life's challenges and dilemmas, inviting readers to contemplate the nature of reality and their place within it. It remains a significant work in Schopenhauer's oeuvre and a valuable resource for anyone interested in existential philosophy and the pursuit of wisdom.