Known for his deep pessimism and sharp wit, Schopenhauer left a lasting mark on literature, psychology, and existentialism. Let’s dive into some captivating facts about this often-overlooked thinker.
Arthur Schopenhauer
He called life a “pendulum” swinging between pain and boredom—yet inspired optimism in thinkers like Nietzsche and Freud.
Arthur Schopenhauer adored his poodle so much he called it “Atman,” a Sanskrit word for the inner self or soul.
He published his most famous work, The World as Will and Representation, at 30—but it was ignored for decades.
Schopenhauer believed music was the purest art because it directly reflected the world’s underlying will.
Despite his bleak worldview, he lived comfortably off an inheritance and enjoyed fine cigars and opera.
He thought love was nature’s trick to ensure reproduction, not a source of happiness or personal fulfillment.
Arthur Schopenhauer: The Pessimist Who Shaped Modern Thought also battled stage fright and refused public lectures after one awkward experience.
He openly admired Eastern philosophy, especially Buddhism and Hinduism, long before it became trendy in the West.
His fierce hatred of Hegel, a fellow German philosopher, led him to schedule lectures at the same time—no one showed up to his.
Arthur Schopenhauer never married and claimed that women were intellectually inferior—views that sparked controversy even in his own time.
He once pushed a woman down the stairs during an argument; a court ordered him to pay her support for 20 years.
Though he despised academia, Schopenhauer: The Pessimist Who Shaped Modern Thought was eventually embraced by universities after his death.
He believed that reading too much could “stifle” original thinking, encouraging people to think for themselves instead.
Franz Kafka, Thomas Mann, and even Albert Einstein praised Schopenhauer’s insights on human nature and suffering.
His bleak philosophy surprisingly offered comfort to those struggling with depression, anxiety, and existential dread.
