Schopenhauer: The World as Will and Idea

[@Sunfried1]

RIP Dr. Sugrue. You will live on through your teaching .

[@room9podcast]

So many other people I can think of that I would have rather died than him… like my father… ha ha ha

[@willmercury]

​@@room9podcast Your mother and I are working on it.

[@aristotleinbottle8012]

damn. didn't know he is dead. RIP

[@gerardlabeouf6075]

Yeah

[@troycambo]

I wonder whose legacy will live longer. This nameless fool who will be forgotten by all but family or the man who he chose to scathingly attack in this moronic lecture.

[@robsamartino71]

Sugrue’s attitude towards Schopenhauer seems to match Schopenhauer’s attitude towards life

[@CrazyLinguiniLegs]

I have read Schopenhauer’s _World as Will and Representation_ as well as _Parerga and Paralipomena_ and _Essays and Aphorisms,_ and I think Sugrue mischaracterizes Schopenhauer as extremely bitter or sad. It makes me wonder if he has even read Schopenhauer. When I read him, Schopenhauer comes off incredibly honest, objective, and unafraid to acknowledge uncomfortable facts about our existence. Is he always correct? No, not in my opinion. But I don’t think Sugrue or academic philosophers in general have given Schopenhauer his fair due.

[@robsamartino71]

@@CrazyLinguiniLegs I was surprised that he poisoned the well against him so early in his lecture. I have yet to take on Schopenhauer so I cannot really defend him, although most other lectures I’ve heard about him are more enthusiastic. It still interesting to hear Sugrue’s two cents on him even though the admiration isn’t fully there. I’ve recently went through some videos of Bernardo Kastrup discussing Schopenhauer and it’s like an entirely different philosopher is being discussed.

[@CrazyLinguiniLegs]

@@robsamartino71 yes, in my opinion Schopenhauer is well worth the time. I appreciate Sugrue’s videos, but it was a big turnoff to see him come out bashing Schopenhauer-“Is it a philosophy at all? Let’s call it a metaphysics of hell”-utter nonsense. There is some good Schopenhauer material on other youtube channels, for instance “Eternalised” and “Weltgeist”. And as you mentioned there is the Kastrup material.

[@CrazyLinguiniLegs]

@@robsamartino71 also I believe Bryan Magee’s videos are still on youtube.

[@robsamartino71]

@@CrazyLinguiniLegs can’t get enough of Bryan Magee

[@erictello5189]

“He’s performed the unusual service of sharing his unhappiness with us” I am honored to have access to your linguistic conceptual illustrations.

[@JB-ru4fr]

That also describes comedians like George Carlin.

[@colonelspicymustard]

The the amount of vocabulary i’ve picked up from Dr. Sugrue’s lectures alone is ineffable.

[@jamesbarlow6423]

They are cool

[@TurrisBlancus]

"For the purposes of discussion, let's consider it the metaphysics from hell."

[@chemicalimbalance7030]

@DickEnchilada if he were with us today guaranteed he’d be a SoundCloud rapper

[@yarivfreed1098]

Schopenhauer spent his afternoons playing music and his evenings going to plays and concerts. Hardly a man wallowing in misery.

[@troycambo]

Yes this was a vitriolic idiotic lecture. his other stuff may be ok but this was mischaracterisation at its best. Very c*nty.

[@bryancastillo8178]

He definitely did overstate his pain. But depression is a real thing.

[@geoycs]

I am a great admirer of Sugrue, and love all of his lectures in this series. They are truly wonderful! I must, however, offer a counter position with regard to his approach to Schopenhauer. Schopenhauer is pessimistic, yes, but he is not horrible and scary. Also, I would absolutely recommend to anyone to begin their study of this fascinating and engaging philosopher directly with « The World as Will and Idea . » You will get his passion, erudition, and mastery of philosophy and language in a clear, straightforward way. Why bother starting with anything else? Also, briefly, Schopenhauer concludes profoundly and humanely that compassion is the proper attitude toward the harshness of the world. I think this call for compassion is so meaningful, and is something we would all do well to keep in mind. We all suffer, so let’s have compassion for what others go through.

[@martiniqi8425]

Schopenhauer himself recommends us to read his earlier works like the four roots of sufficient reason, otherwise “leave this book as a decoration in your bookshelf” hahaha

[@martiniqi8425]

@@VanMan83 how come

[@geoycs]

@@martiniqi8425 well, if you want to start with “The Fourfold Root,” be my guest, but to me the “World as Will and Representation” is a much better entry point.

[@geoycs]

@@VanMan83 yes he was. He was unfair toward them, unfortunately. He was pretty cantankerous and ornery! 😊

[@martiniqi8425]

@@geoycs I agree to that, its kinda hard to understand it without a base though

[@mikelopez9071]

Schopenhauer's insights are so freeing. It's sort of a rock bottom positioning, "I expected it to be this bad and it is, so all I can do now is laugh!"

[@martinrea8548]

Try Samuel Beckett for more of such belly laughs.

[@4zafinc]

So he invented "So bad, it's good"

[@Laserpuppylord7215]

Yes, pessimism is strangely comforting. I got this feeling first from reading Edgar Allan Poe. Just read Schopenhauer’s essays and now contemplating reading the world as will and representation.

[@Earthad23]

Post nut clarity

[@jdzentrist8711]

So ironic, because in spite of everything, Schopenhauer enjoyed life, especially the arts, including obviously music, the theatre, literature and philosophy (except for Hegel!). He loved the pub. On occasion, he "loved" women. He loved food prepared by someone else, and good conversation. He thought the English were the "most intelligent race." Goethe said he "will out-do all of us," and he was right. Amazing, courageous man, no saint, but very few are. Thank you Michael Sugrue and thank you for keeping on keeping on.

[@iart2838]

He had the courage to explore the misery of life, makes no excuses or the need to make people feel positive

[@syphonunfiltered]

American optimism is antithetical to Schopenhauer

[@troycambo]

Yes, he even says if you want sweet platitudes go to street philosophers who will tell you what you want to hear for pay.

[@TravelingPhilosopher]

Or maybe he also had an ideological attachment to pessimism due to his psychological state

[@words007]

As long as the psychological mindset exist in 1 person or 10 or 10000 ​@@TravelingPhilosopher. As long as it exist and is real and tangible something that most humans can understand then it is WORTH LISTENING. No matter how bad or depressive it is. Schopenhauer was indeed ahead of its time. People don't want to look at the worst of life and always find reasons to jump and laugh at next best marry thing. Doesn't mean the real ugliness of the world doesn't exist.

[@SmegOSmeg]

Dr. Sugrue reminds me of one of those professors who speaks so clearly and concisely that I genuinely enjoy going to their classes, even if I have almost no previous interest in the topic. Thank you so much for posting these videos. And please keep uploading more lectures! I genuinely enjoy listening to them.

[@jungao6470]

Me, too.

[@Zsswimmer1]

I definitely understand what you're saying and 100 percent agree, but I found the more I viewed it the more I became interested in the subject itself. Like hearing philosophical lectures through (for example) his Christian lectures would have been a big NOPE from me when I was younger. Not so much anymore Plus he is so damn passionate about the topics discussed that I can't help but feel excited as well! Sometimes I have this on the background while reading another book, ADD lol, or going to sleep, and I swear I feel sharper than I have in a long time. Daily exercise, a good diet, and a good intellectual diet from professors like Dr Sugrue to make you hungry for more knowledge! Professor, I know you probably aren't reading this, I'm just a young man with no degree, but I have never been more interested in these subjects as I have gotten to be this year! 🙏

[@tergre54]

What was said of Oscar Wilde could be said of Dr. Sugre. 'I never before heard a man talking with perfect sentences, as if he had written them all overnight with labour and yet all spontaneous.'

[@sanghoonlee5171]

When I first encountered Schopenhauer I tought he was a miserable weirdo, an unhappy old fox shouting to the world that life is sour grapes. 10 years later, as I enter my 40s with the fruitless angst of youth behind me, I see where he was coming from. So much of activity in our world arises from wants and lust that seem irresistibly seductive but ultimately fail to reward or fulfill. I do wonder from time to time whether Mother Nature has programmed us to chase futile hopes and mirages just so we will live long enough to reproduce the next generation of fools that will repeat another round of the mad dance.

[@odetoazam]

In the Quran it says that God creates life and death to test us and see which of us is better in deeds. Perhaps the dancing is inevitable and we’re monitors to see how much we deviate from the steps that lead to individual and collective harmony ?

[@helvete_ingres4717]

the difference between you and Schop is that you type this sentiment 'Mother Nature has programmed us to chase futile hopes and mirages just so we will live long enough to reproduce the next generation of fools' to a web server from your computer in the age of scientific postmodernity wherein it's a banality, Rick & Morty etc. - whereas Schop illuminated this vision of existence before Darwin even theorised natural selection

[@valiata]

That is precisely what Schopenhauer said in his "Essays" about the crude, natural states of mind which characterise youth. With living experience comes wisdom, if we are sincere enough to look at ourselves and life with a dispassionate eye.

[@clockywork]

@@odetoazam the Quran is fiction, my friend.

[@odetoazam]

@@clockywork ur not up to date if you think you can make a statement like that. Historians have come around and recognize early Islamic history, Muhammad’s life and what the Quran is. Unfortunately people just adopt a view and that’s all they come to know. But no reason to really learn more because surely you got a life to live and a depraved economy to endure 💙

[@myb4d90]

I have heard all of the other old lectures and in fact rewarched them so often that I know them a little too well. Being able to listen to a new one is a treat. Thank you very much!

[@adamroberts9962]

I've watched his Heidegger lecture on Being and Time probably ten times. My favourite!

[@robertpaulson3674]

The older I get the more I agree with Schopenhauer.

[@AlbertAlbertB.]

Oh no

[@dusankrajci6270]

Eat some magic mushrooms and see what god is for yourself,then let your mind accept it in the coming months after the trip

[@anhumblemessengerofthelawo3858]

@@dusankrajci6270 Or you could spend copious amounts of time-space orienting your mind in meditation, contemplation, and -- get this -- prayer. You might personally benefit from chanting (repetitive). There can be no short cuts to genuine enlightenment. Carefully open the gate. Crash it not. I promise you I have had revelations thar made the whole known world vanish from known existence. The second one was as a result of doing the daily workbook lessons of A Course In Miracles! Author: Jesus. Peace to you brother.

[@machinmon.]

Kierkegaard

[@muellervos1982]

💯

[@Artislife-x4r]

I heard Michael for the first time about a year ago. The impact on me was so profound that I immediately bought all of Nietzsche's works. Now, I need to read Nietzsche every day. As a piano teacher, it has made me so much better. Michael will always be an absolute idol for me. Thank you, dear master, wherever you are.

[@enlightenedanalysis]

A great lecture with humour injected in. Just to mention that I find Schopenhauer's pessimism soothing and comforting. Also: Nietzsche rejected much of Schopenhauer's pessimistic teachings in the late 1800s. Nietzsche considered Schopenhauer a "decadent" - meaning someone in a state of decay. In fact, Nietzsche wanted us to embrace life and say yes to life - quite the opposite of Schopenhauer. Many thanks again for a wonderful and enjoyable lecture, Michael.

[@teleofunctionality9246]

You could say the same about Schopenhauer in that he wanted us to appreciate the beauties of life.

[@saintsword23]

Nietzsche went insane because of advanced neurosyphilis. I don't understand how people don't know this at this point.

[@mingus444_gaming]

@@saintsword23 yes, and people take what he wrote at that time to be the sum of his person. Nietzsche was writing more than his worth early on as he was already a professor at age 24.

[@troycambo]

The Nietzsche fanboy phase is the one directly after reading Wolverine comics.

[@unfortunatebeam]

Yep. Schopenhauer was really the first to say, "Life Sucks". And he was right. As for Nietzsche if you actually read his works he seems to spit on much of life.

[@epectase6314]

absolutely in love with these classes, wish philosophical lectures could become a world wide addiction to replace the ones we have right now. Thank you !

[@TonyLouis9345]

Schopenhauer is one of my favorite philosophers. He is brilliant, innovative, insightful and original. Readers often miss his wonderful sense of humor. I often find myself in stiches as I come upon his wry and witty remarks. Kant puts me to sleep. Schopenhauer wakes me up and keeps me laughing. He would have been a wonderful standup comedian. I like the way Sugrue comments about Schopenhauer's influence on Freud. I wish he talked more about Schopenhauer's influence on modern physics, especially Einstein's theory of relativity and the whole field of Quantum Physics.

[@Ffsdevgj]

I tought I was alone and crazy… but these ideas have been there in the human psyche for eons.

[@AnotherDante]

Perhaps it's the rest of the world that's gone mad like ostriches constantly drinking from the sweet wells of false hopes and self-deception.

[@lucasvarela9632]

@@AnotherDante your mother

[@patrickhenry9584]

Read Diomedes 3,000 year old cynic

[@3rdcoastnyucka]

This is biased from the beginning. He was not a “one-trick pony,” and his ideas are not “unpleasant” or “off-putting.” He combined Kant’s transcendental idealism with eastern philosophy, and wrote in a lovely, clear prose, unlike 99 percent of philosophers. He was an artist who understood the value of art. There’s a reason Tolstoy said he spent an amazing summer reading The World as Will and Representation.

[@3rdcoastnyucka]

Also, not mentioned: Schopenhauer wrote his magnum opus in his 20s and never swayed. He was a man who had an idea, and it never wavered, all the way to the grave.

[@3rdcoastnyucka]

He was also a promoter of peace, which was not mentioned. He thought that doing others wrong was the same as doing wrong to yourself, because we’re all part of the same, larger, combined will. This was a terrible analysis. Open book 2 of The World as Will and Representation (skip book 1), and see for yourself.

[@isaachester8475]

Yeah, I always thought Schopenhauer’s philosophy was rather comforting. It’s like he’s saying “We’re all suffering together so let’s try not to make it worse for each other.” It brings about a sort of kinship. The idea of the Will is truly brilliant and insightful, a very interesting response to Kant. Though I side more with Nietzsche in thinking that life is awesome and we should treasure it and also not demonize our desires. Dr. Sugrue seems to have a particular distaste for Schopenhauer which is understandable given all his other deficits, like misogyny. But it does us well to appreciate the good in things.

[@Henchgirl7342]

I think we have to cut the him some slack. He's a university professor Someone like Marx might call it a class interest

[@triggerwarningtruthjustfor5433]

That’s an understatement, he is a brilliant lecturer but seems to have a virulent personal dislike to Schopenhauer.

[@SaxonRanger94]

Rest In Peace Dr Sugrue. Thank you for your diligence and care. You conquered yourself and in turn shared your great mind with the world. A true master of the art of oration and explanation, you saved us many hours of rehashing texts and troubled speculations.😁 You lived atop mountains. May you rest amongst waves of the cosmic tide, finality in gnosis and ultimate solace. Enjoy the ride. 🙏🏼

[@justincheng8783]

One of the great lecturers and intellects of our time

[@Truthspeaking]

YES! THERE ARE MORE LECTURES?! ❤️

[@tibex7498]

My thoughts exactly

[@Horwellston]

Not as popular as the Hegel one.

[@randileeross1961]

,,,,,c,ź,

[@Natron0Zero]

@@Horwellston it was poorly scheduled.

[@clockywork]

"It's hard to think anyone more relentlessly pessimistic than Schopenhauer." *Thomas Ligotti entered the chat*

[@rogeredwards4871]

Interesting because as a young man Joseph Campbell changed my life and his favorite philosopher was Schopenhauer

[@TheDevilsPrank]

The best lecturer I've had the pleasure of listening to, not just on KZbin, but in my entire lifetime and 25 years of education.

[@ErnestRamaj]

Marcus Aurelius's one might be better.

[@TheDevilsPrank]

@@ErnestRamaj it absolutely is! That's his best lecture, so much passion! You'd almost think he's a fanatic. I just decided to comment what I did here instead for some reason.

[@destihado1]

I really envy you! What privilege it must have been

[@TheDevilsPrank]

@@destihado1 If the privilege you're talking about is my 25 years of education, let me put your mind at ease. I've learnt more from free lectures and podcasts on KZbin than any class throughout two decades of education. If you can't go to University for any reason, don't worry. Many great Professors upload their lectures to KZbin for free (such as this great man). The only real advantage of a University is meeting like minded people, and getting certain jobs that require a degree (although that's going away as well).

[@destihado1]

@@TheDevilsPrankby mistake i understood that you had the luck of hearing Dr Sugrue’s lectures in person. My bad! But I agree with you nonetheless :)

[@dialaskisel5929]

Thank you for the lecture. Schopenhauer is fun :) I will say, as a Buddhist convert, I did cringe a little bit at the slight conflation of ideas regarding the Noble Truths. It is an honest and easy mistake to make, though, especially as one looking from the outside in at Buddhism. The "Eight noble truths" are actually the Four Noble Truths and they are (In a simplified way) 1: Suffering - Life (the Human condition) is suffering and it is defined by both pain and the chronic inability to be satisfied. 2: Desire or Attachment - That suffering arises from human desires and attachments to transient things (For example, the fear of death and aging are born of attachments to life and youthful vitality, respectively) 3: Cessation - That you can be liberated from suffering by limiting or renouncing Desires and Attachments. 4: The Noble Eightfold Path - That you can follow the Noble Eightfold Path (a topic in itself, to summarize: basically being responsible with your life, being mindfully attentive to the present, practicing meditation, and adopting and fostering "right views" about the nature of and your relationship to reality) It should also be noted that it is a bit of a misperception to consider Buddhist practices and teachings as strictly ascetic and hopelessly pessimistic. Buddhism is called "The Middle Way" as it discourages the extremes of sensual pleasure-seeking AND extreme asceticism. A sort of wise moderation on most things in life is encouraged by many branches of Buddhism. As far as being pessimistic is concerned: Suffering is a reality of the human condition, but the point of Buddhist practice (especially in Mahayana Buddhism) is to overcome suffering so that one can experience Nirvana in this life and live and happy and fulfilled life.

[@Andre-bi3gq]

Thanks for the detailed comment. Which book should I read to learn more?

[@dialaskisel5929]

@@Andre-bi3gq First and foremost I'd recommend listening to some of the lectures by Alan Watts (you can find many of his lectures for free on KZbin). He is a British Zen Buddhist, and comes at Buddhism (and Hinduism) more from the direction of western philosophy. That was my own introduction, he brings things down to earth in an easily digestible way (and he is pleasant to listen to). For looking into Buddhism itself more directly, one must keep in mind that there are two drastically divergent branches, each of which have their own texts and spin on practices. The first branch is "Theravada" or "School of the Elders" and it is the more traditionalist form of Buddhism. Its main text is the "Pali Canon". This branch tends to cleave a bit more closely to the letter of the specific teachings laid down in the earliest Buddhist traditions. From what I understand, it tends to be a bit more methodologically focused, with diligent practice of the many specific teachings leading to a sort of ordered gradual enlightenment over many years of practice. The "Mindfulness" movements that have sprung up in the west are more directly descended from this branch of Buddhism. The second (and beyond, as this branch splits off in numerous directions) branch is called "Mahayana" or "The Great Vehicle", and it is a later development that diverges from some of the older doctrines. It doesn't have a "main text" per se, but its refutation of earlier forms of Buddhism is laid out in its early texts like "The Lotus Sutra" (which I wouldn't recommend getting into unless you are deeply into the scholarship. It almost exclusively concerned with countering and putting down the earlier Buddhist tradition and is otherwise a rather repetitive and dry affair). Mahayana focuses a little more on the Metaphysics of nonduality and Anatman (no Self), and how an understanding of those underlying concepts and their implications can be a path to enlightenment and Nirvana in this life. It also focuses on the "Bodhisattva vehicle", which is a path that focuses on ultimately becoming a Buddha, so that one can liberate all sentient beings from suffering. Tibetan Buddhism and Zen (which I personally follow) spring from this branch, and their paths are drastically different from one another. If you'd like an introduction to Mahayana concepts I'd encourage reading The Diamond Sutra and The Heart Sutra. They are both extremely short but get straight to the point, and do so quite eloquently. I know I rambled on a bit, but I hope that helps :)

[@shaunkerr8721]

It's the middle way so what are the pleasure seeking beliefs of Buddhism which moderate its ascetic actions?

[@dialaskisel5929]

@@shaunkerr8721 It varies in different schools of Buddhism. Some schools emphasize a stricter interpretation of the Eightfold Path than others, especially if you have taken vows and are a part of a monastery. The story goes that Siddhartha Gautama (the founder of Buddhism) initially abandoned the life of a decadent prince after having something of an existential crisis and pursued a spiritual path that led to self-mortification. There are stories of him eating only a single grain of rice a day in his ascetic pursuits and that his bones were visible under his skin due to how emaciated he had become. He then realized that this wasn't the true path, so he abandoned his ascetic discipline, accepting a generous offer of rice pudding from a passing village girl, leading to his fellow ascetics becoming scandalized by his lack of discipline and initially abandoning him. It was shortly after this that he meditated beneath the Bodhi tree for a time until he attained full enlightenment. So, instead of extreme ascetic self-denial, the Eightfold path emphasizes something more akin to healthy living advice, and even in the path itself there can be a bit of ambiguity and interpretation. Speaking from Zen, I've watched a few Zen initiation ceremonies (at a Zen school in America, so it is less intense and monastery focused), and they are always rather fascinating. After the initiates take their vows, the teacher then clarifies some of the vows and encourages the initiates to use the Eightfold path as a sort of primer for introspection instead of hard rules with the line "We observe the precepts through breaking them". For example, there is a precept to avoid intoxicating substances... But what defines an intoxicating substance is open to interpretation (as even abstract things like pride can be intoxicating from a certain perspective). The teacher then lightly commented that the point is to avoid being intoxicated to the point that there is a hangover (in other words, that the point of avoiding intoxicating substances is to avoid the consequences you can experience from consuming intoxicating substances, it is not just an arbitrary rule that has to be followed for its own sake). The way I see Zen, ascetic practices are done solely to aid one in developing healthy self-control and a healthier perspective on life. If the practices begin to cause unnecessary pain or are otherwise pointlessly arbitrary and inappropriate, then they should be abandoned or limited, as ultimately the point is to live a happier life.

[@wantanamera]

There are many different ways of interpreting the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, what you listed is just your way (or your teacher’s way) of interpreting them.

[@outofbox000]

KZbin was made for this stuff. Michael I love you man

[@yummy2318]

I love Schopenhauer.

[@Balys111]

Ooh, yes!!! I need to find either a DVD set or a digital repository of all of Dr. Sugrue's lectures so I can watch and re-watch, in order.

[@PreludeDude]

I'd pay good money for that set of information... Wait it's free on KZbin already.

[@Balys111]

@@PreludeDude I would pay for either hard copies or a digital archive of the full, organized set. These lectures are amazing. I just wish I could find a a complete and chronologically-/topically- ordered archive so I can use them to study and build up an organized and comprehensive understanding.

[@wmvv123]

I made a playlist with all his lectures, organized by the date of birth of the subject: kzbin.info/aero/PLViSFoOWmwpTvvhUHyTgTC8H8M859Fk1Q

[@Balys111]

@@wmvv123 Thank you! I'll check it out. Is it comprehensive of his various series or only what's uploaded on YT?

[@JH-le4sd]

@@Balys111 I think you can download if you pay for KZbin red.

[@WilliamsWrestlin]

My favorite Philosopher.

[@clearlynour]

A beautifully constructed lecture; Thank you, Mr. Sugrue.

[@maxnul]

Literally this is a part of this moment of my life when I have the chance to consume this content and it helps me with so many things! Like improve my English, professor Sugrue I love this content and I can’t get enough

[@stormrider1375]

"The world is not a piece of machinery and animals are not manufactured for our use. Such views should be left to synagogues and philosophical lecture-rooms, which in essence are not so very different." - Arthur Schopenhauer

[@BioChemistryWizard]

Based

[@gabrielbarbosa7882]

Based beyond measure.

[@thetruthoutside8423]

Sharing his unhappiness with us is always welcome and for a good reasons and especially nowadays.

[@fascistphilosophy5649]

It's so beautiful that Schopenhauer was this perfectly sour complement to Hegel. I am reaching enlightenment via Schopenhauer-Hegelian model, reporting back influenced by modern western Hindu-Buddhist gurus. The real 'I' is the Absolute; this egoic self is merely a whirlwind of ... will. ... Hell is confusing the latter for the prior... This lecture is truly pinnacle of reality, thanks so much Sugrue

[@xavierandresfalconimorales4659]

Thanks!

[@PuncturedBicycle-wy4po]

I find Schopenhauer to be a warm, engaging and compassionate philosopher. I don’t understand this negativity in the introduction. Normally I appreciate Sugrue’s lectures.

[@christianmeyer4054]

Thanks for talking about a German philosopher who seems all too often avoided in today's universities. You need to give Arthur Schopenhauer more credit. His influence was immense, e.g. on Leo Tolstoy or Oswald Spengler. Nietzsche called him his teacher, whom you can surely trust . Maybe he was not just negative, but right? "Du kannst tun was du willst, aber nicht wollen was du willst." Schopenhauer was onto something, interpreting das Ding an sich as will, but the will is untouchable, unknowable. And, did you mention his curse against the Verhunzung of the German language? How true it is today.

[@johnrodgers2018]

I find his philosophy so freeing, enjoying the continual state of striving and self improvement. Knowing I will never be contented is OK.

[@ChristmasFace]

This lecture couldn't be any more timely; I've just started reading the World As Will And Idea, and Dr. Sugrue is really helping to clear up my confusion on Schopenhauer's metaphysics!

[@blix4199]

I suggest you read Bryan Magee’s commentaries on Schopenhauer as a counterpoint to Dr Sugrue’s rather glib dismissal

[@OpenmusicEs]

@@blix4199 I will definitely read that one. Thanks for the info.

[@OpenmusicEs]

I'd say Dr. Sugrue's reading is excellent but a bit bias towards the dark side of Schopenhauer's writings. I consider his complete works (after having read them) to be a monumental set of ideas full of living force (not exactly pessimistic).

[@yarnboyjr3909]

@@OpenmusicEs where there is a dark aspect to Schopenhauer there is also a revelation - questions that arise after reading his book and answers. Such as inspirations, rationale, temperament, and also Schopenhauer will and representation really has a great psychological aspect.

[@paulheinrichdietrich9518]

@@OpenmusicEs I would also recommend Copleston's "Schopenhauer, philosopher of Pessimism" as a companion and counterpoint to Magee's book.

[@angelferreira1746]

Dr. Sugrue must have been a great dude to go to a bar with. Please continue enlightening me as I drown my existential dread in these pints.

[@russhouldin5774]

I dont like to throw the word "genius" around but Sugrue strikes me as worthy.

[@czarquetzal8344]

To all: Read "The World as Will and Representation" by Arthur Schopenhauer instead of just relying on this lecture.

[@ali72044]

Schopenhauer is the single greatest philosopher in history. He is as close as we have gotten to the Higher Men.

[@rightww]

Do you think someone would commit suicide after watching this video

[@Girlinterrupted955]

"We are a bundle of desires and a collection of answers. Our desires never get satisfied and our questions never get answered."

[@shutincinema4050]

What an amazing lecture, which really shouldn't come as a surprise considering Professor Sugrue's track record. I really love how he is able to connect great philosophical thinkers together whilst providing context for how they relate to (and are different from) each other. After watching this I am definitely going to revisit the Freud and Nietzsche lectures again.

[@isaachester8475]

Yeah it’s been very cool to see how all the pieces fit together. There are so many philosophers with so many works, it’s often easy to miss the contexts in which they were written. Dr. Sugrue is doing us a great service by painting a cohesive picture.

[@edgregory1]

He was the sum of his experiences as we all are.

[@repsych]

Thanks; I sat at a table this morning out in the park where the sun was low, no wind bothered me and I laughed at Arthur.

[@warrenweaver6664]

Arthur Schopenhauer - 'Human life must be some kind of mistake. My favorite quote from him.

[@pearz420]

"I specifically requested the opposite of this."

[@thomasdequincey5811]

The tracking might be slightly off, but this is still an incredible lecture. It's witty, insightful and interesting.

[@tjackskogen9304]

This is one of the best lectures on philosophical subjects i have ever seen. He explains the topics clearly and eloquently yet doesn't needlessly convolute things all the while not dumbing anything down. This should be mandatory viewing for any would be lecturer in all subjects.

[@zumzumman5135]

Respect for this guy. May disagree and be some what put off by Schopenhauer’s thought but still presents it accurately and without distortion

[@MrXYZMEE]

This man is the best teacher I've ever seen.

[@greendeane1]

Schopenhauer seems to me to be accurate and the most honest of philosophers.

[@OpenmusicEs]

Very useful briefing of Schopenhauer's ideas. One missing and very important aspect is his view of animal suffering under human rule.

[@karenjohnston9201]

Was surprised to find the judgment and opinion about Schopenhauer- have just found Dr. Segrue and have been amazed at the clarity and help he offers in meeting philosophy so late in my life. This one is different - de doesn’t seem to find compassion for this philosopher so as to offer a cleaner perspective. It feels a bit like it hit a fear in him with no way out. Will continue to learn more as Dr. Sugrue has so much to share. Thank you.

[@yeyoreview5661]

This is a professor, someone who makes you think, peaks clearly, you learn, you feel like you must look for more information and makes you seek knowledge not make it a task, he makes knowledge seen like a necesity of human existence which it is, school only tells you you must learn in order to do this, philosophy makes you want to know the world and comprehend it better, its a way of life.

[@carolinapimentel5370]

Exacting and entertaining lecture. Thank you for discussing Schopenahauer. Brilliant mind .

[@TPMBernssen]

Thank you! I find myself watching these lectures more and more...

[@drainel9707]

These are great videos. I wish Bob Solomon was still alive. He produced great lectures with the same video company. I wish they were preserved on youtube in the same way Dr Sugrue has been doing

[@bestman911]

Such a generous man! We can't thank you enough for sharing your invaluable lectures, Prof. Sugrue!

[@davidfulton3287]

So glad KZbin is giving a new generation the pleasure of listening to Dr. Sugrue.

[@marksoffian5568]

Excellent and eclectic lecture. Unlike the one I had in college that put me to sleep 😴

[@oldsachem]

My whole family met tragedy in 20th century US through no fault of their own. Consequently, my life has been a will to laughter with flat affect.

[@davidconroy8554]

I met a lad once who was balls deep into Buddhism. He knew all the Upanishads and all the theory. I had a great discussion with him for two or three days comparing Buddhism and Stoicism. But then he was telling me a story of how his mother was on her last legs and how his sister started labelling home appliances and furniture with her name. He told me how much it infuriated him and how he had to get financial support to fight a lengthy legal battle with his siblings in the wake of his mothers passing. I sat there listening to him thinking "where the fuck was all the Buddhism? "

[@davidconroy8554]

@Eudaimonia life is perception and our perception is largely determined by our world view. Is the purpose of Buddhism not to change that world view?

[@lifeisabadjoke5750]

When is comes to money philosophy ends.

[@davidconroy8554]

@@lifeisabadjoke5750 or begins, or perhaps ought to begin. I made a video called "death to all infidels" but I'm being obstructed from posting it, for a good reason I'm sure. I think it actually goes "death to all idolators", if we agree that money and the golden calf are the same thing, who are they?

[@KenshoBeats]

Woah, and I thought I had seen all of Sugrue’s lectures, what a treat! 🙏🏼

[@colts8146]

WOAH I did not know there was more Sugrue lectures he recorded. This is a welcome sight indeed thank you!

[@dionysian222]

It’s easier to chastise poor ol Schopenhauer than to prove his point of view wrong!

[@eartgmutha]

Thank you for being my philosophy lecturer- fabulous and fascinating

[@fermassi]

Great class! Thank you so much for sharing it.

[@zhengyangwu8289]

This is the greatest lecturer I have ever listened to!

[@daudkaun3807]

RIP Professor. I am heartbroken.

[@davidconroy8554]

I think what is necessary to understand Shopenhaur is empathy. I remember studying cognitive behavioural therapy, Buddhism and some Hinduism to try and alleviate my severe depression. Can you imagine being hopelessly locked in the finite and struggling to understand text written by people who are writing from the perspective of the other end of a binary, they are completely immersed in the infinite. The self is an illusion. Then I found Stoicism. Imagine then that the Universe throws you a lifeline, it speaks to you and you have to make a choice, the aesthetic man or the virtuous man. This is what Kierkegaard described as the dizzy heights of freedom because it takes great courage to leave all that you have and throw yourself into the abyss. It would of course be only natural to question your sanity and this is where Reason and faith entwine. " The objective of life is to escape from the side of the majority and find yourself comfortably amongst the ranks of the insane" - Marcus Aurelius. Then once you throw yourself into the abyss you find out what it means to stay present because you have to engage with your reality in the present moment in order to survive, a primary basic instinct, the will to live. As rational social beings we strive for connection, but when you are of a certain intellect you find the company of the majority barely tolerable, so escape from the finite is achieved through substance abuse, altered states, " sometimes an intelligent man has to drink so he can spend some time with his fools" - Hemingway. If you contemplate your conceptual experiences, suffering is an opportunity for growth and development. The Universe will teach you, all you have to do is pay attention. When you reach a certain understanding of Nature, you find yourself in the same position as Dostoyevsky, right on the dividing line. But for this you have to establish new values and be willing to re-define your morality. If you don't and instead impose your morality on Nature all understanding will be over and you will go insane, lost in the abyss, like Nietzsche. Because we are a culmination of the evolutionary process we have instinctual drives, the will to live, not only exist, live, the will to procreate, the will to power and the instinctual drive for pleasure. I used to think Stoicism was about overcoming these instinctual drives but it's not, it's about controlling them, learning how to use them virtuously. As Nietzsche said the organising idea reveals itself and all your actions are directed towards that. You do not avoid pain or seek pleasure, that's from the Bhagavad-Gita. Shopenhaur tried to adhere to Buddhist doctrines and turned sour on women, an alter ego, but he couldn't control the will to power, he went directly head on competing with Hegel. Trying to control his desires and aversions I'm sure caused him much frustration but it was due to a lack of understanding. I have little to no time for passive fatalism, just accepting will go as they must ,is relinquishing what is within our control. If you bring a car to a garage to increase its performance, the garage can't do much if it doesn't understand the engine.

[@lizandro7728]

This comment was amazing. Thank you for this. I loved reading it!

[@davidconroy8554]

@@lizandro7728 you are very welcome, thank you 🙂

[@avertingapathy3052]

So it's essentially take the hint that things have to change if you're at odds with nature and use Stoic dichotomy of control/virtues/meditation of you'll be an another fool discarded by natural selection? Take whatever window of control you're given by mother nature and environment or else return to nothingness philosophically and or physically? Sounds absolutely brutal and kinda passionless (unless I'm misunderstanding Stoics). Is the solution purely something like Serenity prayer?

[@corn204]

Feels like nothing matters except that we must participate in this free-for-all experiment that, frighteningly, we not knowingly signed up for.

[@davidconroy8554]

@@corn204 that the exact lick your balls attitude that compounds ones misery.

[@11dsky78]

This is best place to start Philosophy. There is a need of more to delve into Schopenhauer philosophy to understand him better.

[@PhaedrusPollux]

Fantastic, was just revisiting Schopenhaur recently, and I had regret that there wasn't a video from Professor Sugrue.

[@abbeymaeliam1]

This lecture is a bit of a misrepresentation of Schopenhauer. I'd recommend anyone watching to go to the source. In the man's own words: "Life before text. Text before commentary."

[@petergabel8911]

Danke!

[@Dino_Medici]

Thanks for the lectures man. All the other lectures are in one ear out the other. But i actually remember and am easily able to conceptualize everything you say. It’s a miracle!

[@voyagersa22]

A new lecture ☺️What a Pleasant surprise.

[@aragustin]

Thank you oh so much for for these uploads, just came across them and I'm very glad I clicked the suggested video. Thank you for your time, effort and good intentions, greetings from Chile

[@alreidie]

Thank you for getting us through these soul destroying times, Professor.

[@samadhi5]

Ah, the esteemed Dr. Sugrue. With a cavernous cranial capacity, versatile vocabulary, and erudite explication of the corpus of Western philosophy, the good doctor is my preferred choice for instruction in the minutiae of the this realm we inhabit, which is called the universe. Thank you, Dr. Sugrue. 😊 👍

[@maxdawes73]

lotta big words there bucko

[@samadhi5]

Thank you, but my preferred informal appellation in an instance such as this is fella, rather than bucko.

[@gerhitchman]

Wow thats a lot of big words u must be really smrt

[@mikemcdermott393]

Oh hell yeah, Geistmaster Sugrue back at it. Bless up today

[@Damascene749]

Every lecture is like a symphony. The Professor always ties the ideas back to God which I think is very important too, because that’s the ultimate question every philosopher is trying to resolve

[@blingpup21]

Can we reflect for a moment on how good this lecturer is.

[@eddiebeato5546]

His introduction on Schopenhauer’s background, as a prelude, struck me as the nitty-gritty of the whole will-to-exist, as essentially tragic, but as Dr. Michael Sugrue continues, I am quite impressed by the appalling lucidity, wit and brilliant explanation of such complicated abstract concepts to peeling off the different layers between subject and object! That’s brilliancy on equal terms with Arthur Schopenhauer! His intellectual power and stunning erudition to blending-in so many different philosophers and endless analogies are remarkable, extraordinary and delightful to a very high degree. To the say that the thing in itself, noumena, is an insaciable blind will-to-exist, is one of the scariest things ever discovered. I have always thought that God was the true author of this best of all possible worlds? At any event, thanks for posting this video!

[@username1235400]

These lectures enrich life. Very grateful for this amazing content. As always - Thank you!

[@rioter6944]

this was incredibly insightful what a beautiful way of thinking of consciousness his thoughts show an inverse vacuum of what it means to be a sentient being

[@2012dxb]

Wonderful lecture. I'm grateful to you.

[@henhound]

Great lecture. But he completely skips Schopenhauer's conception of morality ie: compassion. Also I think its important to mention Schopenhauer's influence on Charles Darwin.

[@Alacard0malley]

Thank you for having the wherewithall to record these lectures they are brilliant

[@adamroberts9962]

Saw this and knew my day would get better!

[@nobodynowhere7163]

A lecture on Schopenhauer by Prof. Sugrue! Awesome!

[@RNCM_Philosophy]

Been waiting for this! Send my thanks to Dr Sugrue for uploading this

[@henriqueyoh]

great teacher

[@fernandohaddadjunqueira8339]

Thank God! Greetings from Brazil

[@foggedieves]

Many of Schopenhauer's citations are like the Proverbs in the Bible. People often don't like them cause they cut straight through all the nonsensical excuses people like to make.

[@georgevasquez4087]

I really enjoyed his other philosophical lectures, but I can't figure this one out. I wanted to learn more fine points of Schopenhauer’s philosophy, but Dr. Sugrue seems to have a profound contempt for not only his philosophy, but it seems for him personally as well. He states that “Schopenhauer has a powerful strain of Indian/Eastern pessimism that I think is a combination of Hinduism and Buddhism.” He states “It is hard to imagine a man that wallows in his own unhappiness to a greater extent than Schopenhauer.” He calls him a “one-trick pony” and that he cannot direct anyone to any of his texts because they would find them offensive and justifiably so”. He then he implies that both Schopenhauer and Nietzsche were “bad men” though they wrote beautiful prose. Amazing he could find the religions of Hinduism and Buddhism, which 1.5 billion people follow as “Indian/Eastern pessimism”. Are all the writing of countless Theravada, Mahayana, Zen, Tibetan, and Hindu sages pessimistically deluded? Schopenhauer lived through two world wars that claimed a total of 75 million lives, and left many more injured, and resulted in the development of the atomic and hydrogen bombs, which are capable of wiping out all life on Earth -- it also brought us Auschwitz and Treblinka. He lived before Stalin killed 21 million, before Mao Zedong killed 39 million. Our history as taught in school is one replete with wars that seem to define us. Our pathological destruction of the earth’s environment has led to sea level rise, the death of a great deal of marine life, catastrophic storms, wildfires, and political instability brought on by the large number of climate refugees who will have nowhere to go. All of this is taking place right now and will continue in the future. His pessimism is arguably well founded. And finally, I’ll quote another Stoic philosopher who Dr. Sugrue would undoubtedly consider one who wallows in his own unhappiness: “What need is there to Weep Over Parts of Life? The whole of it calls for Tears” - Seneca

[@svengroot3909]

What a gem of a professor to discover on a monday morning

[@silverkeystoalchemicalgold3358]

Thanks for posting this, Dr Sugrue. I spend a lot of my workouts listening to this lecture series on x1.5 speed Always excellent content and I’m excited to watch this despite my familiarity with the content

[@joshvanschaick4896]

Love these lectures! Thanks Professor!