Lauren Rule- Arthur Schopenhauer (Class Reading #4)

Arthur Schopenhauer has a more pessimistic view of the world.  "Art reveals the nature of reality and gives us access to metaphysical truths about existence."  Reality, as we are aware of it, is an illusion.  The only way for a person to know true reality is to will said knowledge.  The only point to life is the satisfaction of desires, however, the satisfaction does not last.  Individualism is also an illusion; at the core of our existence, we all have a uniting factor.  Schopenhauer's view has aspects of Indian philosophy.  The idea that desires are mere illusions and even satisfying said desires is useless is popular in Eastern philosophy.  Schopenhauer takes parts of Kant's theory.  Science is limited, it can't go beyond reality, which is an illusion anyway.  Art is not limited in the same way science is.  Art can give  insight beyond science, into metaphysical truth.  I don't like that Schopenhauer believes genius is necessary for both creating art and appreciating art.  "All art, with the exception of music, presents ideas rather than things."  The ideas which lie behind the piece of art are what's important.  Music is the highest form of art because of the way it communicates its idea to the audience instead of just representing the idea.  Art is a form of attachment to this world; it is a physical aspect.  An artist may be able to create a piece of art with ideas about the metaphysical world, but he or she may not be able to grasp to idea of the art.