Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) was a German philosopher known for his profound and often pessimistic views on human nature and existence. His philosophy, heavily influenced by Immanuel Kant and Eastern thought, emphasizes the concept of will as the primary force driving human behavior and the suffering inherent in existence. Schopenhauer’s most famous work, The World as Will and Representation, presents his metaphysical theory that the world is shaped by our perceptions, with the underlying force being an irrational, blind will.
Schopenhauer’s work on human desires, suffering, and the nature of reality has had a lasting impact on Western philosophy and psychology. He is often considered one of the most influential figures in existentialism and nihilism. His exploration of the human will and its role in suffering has influenced thinkers such as Friedrich Nietzsche and Sigmund Freud.
While Schopenhauer’s worldview is often seen as pessimistic, his ideas also contain a path toward liberation through art, philosophy, and asceticism—ways to transcend the suffering of the world.
