There are unusual reasons why Schopenhauer's philosophy is important. Retaining from Kant the distinction between the noumenal and the phenomenal, he embraces the relevance of Eastern philosophy to the former and that of empiricism to the latter. His ethics—unlike Kant's, which are based on reason—are based on compassion. So he alone among major Western philosophers takes genuine account of Buddhism, yet at the same time gives full weight to science. Areas outside philosophy in which his thought has been important include psychology and the arts. As well as being the first and greatest philoso ... More

There are unusual reasons why Schopenhauer's philosophy is important. Retaining from Kant the distinction between the noumenal and the phenomenal, he embraces the relevance of Eastern philosophy to the former and that of empiricism to the latter. His ethics—unlike Kant's, which are based on reason—are based on compassion. So he alone among major Western philosophers takes genuine account of Buddhism, yet at the same time gives full weight to science. Areas outside philosophy in which his thought has been important include psychology and the arts. As well as being the first and greatest philosophical influence on both Nietzsche and Wittgenstein, he had comparable influence on Freud and Jung and affected the work of creative artists from Wagner to Tolstoy. The intellectual fashions of the twentieth century underestimated his work, and neglected his influence, but a reappraisal of both is now due. This book takes a fresh look at his work, and contains especially long discussions of his influence on Wittgenstein and Wagner.