PHIL 180 Lecture 14: Shopenhauer on Meaning of Life
Document Summary
Contradicting what many philosophers had stated previously, schopenhauer argued that evil is a real thing, with goodness being the lack of evil. So it is that in our good days we are all unconscious of the evil fate may have in store for us si(cid:272)k(cid:374)ess, po(cid:448)e(cid:396)t(cid:455), (cid:373)utilatio(cid:374), loss of sight o(cid:396) (cid:396)easo(cid:374). (cid:863)[iii] I shall (cid:271)e told that (cid:373)(cid:455) philosoph(cid:455) is (cid:272)o(cid:373)fo(cid:396)tless because i speak the truth; and people preferred to be assured that everything the lord has made is good. Go to the priests, then, and leave the philosophe(cid:396)s i(cid:374) pea(cid:272)e do (cid:374)ot ask us to a(cid:272)(cid:272)o(cid:373)(cid:373)odate ou(cid:396) do(cid:272)t(cid:396)i(cid:374)es to the lesso(cid:374)s (cid:455)ou ha(cid:448)e (cid:271)ee(cid:374) taught. That is what those rascals of sham philosophers will do for you. Ask them for any doctrine you please, and you will get it. Schopenhauer also argues that non-human animals are happier than human beings, since happiness is basically freedom from pain.
