Dr Tom Kerns
North Seattle Community College

 

Study Questions for

Arthur Schopenhauer's
Die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung

Books III and IV

(There's treasure in this book. But it's buried.)

  1. On pp 178-79, in Book III on aesthetic contemplation, S is trying to describe what that contemplation is. Paraphrase what he is saying.

  2. In the last 10 lines on p 185, to the middle of 188 (& ff), S is describing the concept of genius. What is genius, according to S?

  3. In the middle paragraph on p 196, what is saying? And then, what is contemplation (next two paragraphs)?

  4. In #40, what does S mean by "the charming" in art? (It isn't required, but if you think of it, attach two picture examples of art that might be considered "charming" in this sense. Also, two examples of true art that is not charming, but that inspires aesthetic contemplation.)

  5. In #s 57-60 Artie is showing that Life is Suffering. What are his reasons for saying that this is the case?

  6. What is Big Art's definition of "the good" in # 65?

  7. What is "the way of asceticism" in # 68?

  8. In your view, is Schopenhauer's world view "pessimistic?" What are your feelings about his philosophy so far?