Barbara Hannan

The Riddle of the World

A Reconsideration of Schopenhauer's Philosophy

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

This book is an introduction to the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer, written in a lively, personal style. Hannan emphasizes the peculiar inconsistencies and tensions in Schopenhauer's thought - he was torn between idealism and realism, and between denial and affirmation of the individual will. In addition to providing a useful summary of Schopenhauer's main ideas, Hannan connects Schopenhauer's thought with ongoing debates in philosophy. According to Hannan, Schopenhauer was struggling half-consciously to break altogether with Kant and transcendental idealism; the anti-Kantian features of Schopenhauer's thought possess the most lasting value. Hannan defends panpsychist metaphysics of will, comparing it with contemporary views according to which causal power is metaphysically basic. Hannan also defends Schopenhauer's ethics of compassion against Kant's ethics of pure reason, and offers friendly amendments to Schopenhauer's theories of art, music, and "salvation." She also illuminates the deep connection between Schopenhauer and the early Wittgenstein, as well as Schopenhauer's influence on existentialism and psychoanalytic thought.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Oxford University Press
• Seitenzahl: 176
• Erscheinungstermin: 25. Februar 2009
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 211mm x 139mm x 12mm
• Gewicht: 212g
• ISBN-13: 9780195378931
• ISBN-10: 0195378938
• Artikelnr.: 26082599

Autorenporträt

Barbara Hannan is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of New Mexico. She holds degrees in both philosophy and law.

Inhaltsangabe

* Acknowledgments
* Preface
* Chapter One: A Sketch of Schopenhauer's Central Ideas: A Neglected
Genius
* The Fourfold Root
* Transcendental Idealism and the Metaphysics of Will
* Freedom, Determinism and the Will\
* The Basis of Ethics: Reason versus Compassion
* Chapter Two: Three Major Themes of Schopenhauer's Philosophy:
Transcendental Idealism, Panpsychism, and Determinism
* Kant's Epistemology
* Schopenhauer's Version of Idealism, and his Evaluation of Kant
* Why I Am Not an Idealist
* A Suggestion
* Schopenhauer's Panpsychism and its Philosophical Ancestry
* Objections to Panpsychism Considered
* Causal Power as Metaphysically Basic
* Determinism and Responsibility
* Quantum Mechanics
* Chapter Three: Schopenhauer's Anti-Kantian Account of Morality:
Kantian Ethics: Its Appeal and Its Puzzling Aspects
* Schopenhauer Reads Kant's Ethics
* Compassion as the Basis of Ethics
* Evaluative Remarks
* Wittgenstein's Ethical View and Its Schopenhauerian Roots
* Chapter Four: Schopenhauer's Aesthetics: The Meaning of Art and
Music: Schopenhauer's Aesthetic Theory in General
* Schopenhauer's Theory of Music in Particular
* The Character of Genius
* Summary of My Suggestions
* Chapter Five: Pessimism, Depression, and Salvation: Pessimism as a
Philosophical Orientation
* Optimism and Pessimism as Personality Traits
* The Danger of the Attribution Fallacy
* Depression and the Psychological Roots of Pessimism
* Salvation as Recovery from Depression
* Schopenhauer on the "Acquired Character"
* Salvation as Denial of the Will
* Now That My Ladder's Gone

Rezensionen

Wonderfully clear and illuminating. E. J. Lowe, Durham University