Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) was a German philosopher known for his profound influence on 19th-century philosophy, particularly in the realms of metaphysics, ethics, and aesthetics. Born in Danzig (now Gdańsk, Poland), Schopenhauer developed a unique philosophical system that diverged from the prevailing idealism of his time. In his major work, “The World as Will and Representation” (1818), Schopenhauer posited that an underlying, blind, and irrational force he called the “Will” is the essence of reality. He argued that human desires and suffering arise from the ceaseless striving of this Will.
Schopenhauer’s philosophy had a profound impact on later thinkers, including Friedrich Nietzsche and Sigmund Freud. His views on the nature of existence, the role of the will, and the pursuit of inner peace through aesthetic contemplation continue to be studied and debated, securing his place as a key figure in the history of Western philosophy.
