Philosophy Now Forum

How does Schopenhauer’s “On women” make you think about the rest of his work?

JamesSisyphus wrote: ↑Sat Jun 14, 2025 9:30 pm How does Schopenhauer’s “On women” make you think about the rest of his work?

...that it's to be judged separately.

JamesSisyphus wrote: ↑Sat Jun 14, 2025 9:30 pm How does Schopenhauer’s “On women” make you think about the rest of his work?

that "Off women" was an incomplete list...

-Imp

It's of its time and place and most since. As John Lennon said.

JamesSisyphus wrote: ↑Sat Jun 14, 2025 9:30 pm How does Schopenhauer’s “On women” make you think about the rest of his work?

Schopenhauer was a product of his time, but of such a mind, one would hope he would have been able to be more than that. Combine that with his negative experiences with the fair sex, and it is more understandable. He blamed his mother for the suicide of his father. Now there is a complex that might twist one up a bit. Judging him from our present times is a little unfair, today women are all positive, and the male should beg forgiveness for existing, the brutal, oppressive beast that he is. We, too, are products of our time. I am reminded of a statement, I know not who to attribute it to. " "If you admire someone for their talent and/or intellect, do not attempt to meet them, you will be disappointed in the whole person." He was a brilliant, insightful man; it should be left at that. It is said his philosophy is one of pessimism; indeed, it is depressing, but it is depressing because it's true: this is a sublimely horrific world, also a sublimely beautiful world. It is not an uplifting philosophy, but it is indeed an enlightening one. One has to learn to deal with reality or get religion.