Connor McDowell

It is difficult reading. The English version broken down into 2 volumes by E.F.J Payne, I could not read the first volume. It was extremely abstract and grounded by little to no basic ideas that even someone who has read his whole life could find footing in or purpose for. The second volume, though, regarded as "supplementary to the first, examples of the ideas in the first" is full of absolutely brilliant ideas- and for the philosophically inclined, will bear fruit for your struggles. The 2nd volume is broken down into chapters of "on ____," where Schopenhauer basically gives you perspective while using the topic as the portal. As well, I suspect these ideas still reverberate in culture today. For example: "On The Inner Nature of Art" tells of how art holds all of its value in stimulating the imagination of the beholder, such that their imagination finds the "final thing," and all you did was prompt it to. I was stunned when I read that passage, as I had recently uncovered the same idea in a journal of mine. Keep in mind, this was written in 1818. Did I come up with this alone and coincidentally have the exact same notion? Or did it piece itself together in me through little confirmations here and there in society, originally stemming from Schopenhauer's' writing? Or did Schopenhauer touch on something "Divine," explaining something that underlies our existence, some truth that I can arrive at today just like he arrived at in 1818? Any way that peculiar situation explains itself, it's an indication of how valuable this book is. This happened twice so far in the book.