Frederick Copleston on Schopenhauer: Section 4

Schopenhauer

This program examines the systematic, philosophical pessimism of Arthur Schopenhauer and its emphasis on infraconsciousness, or will, as the irrational motivating force in human nature. Distinguished philosophical historian Frederick Copleston discusses Schopenhauer's theory of underlying reality as experienced through the inner self. On a larger scale, the concept of will is ultimately defined as energy, which is judged to be central to scientific explanations of what drives the universe.

Section: 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGwSe0ZptV0

Section 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiSaACnYA44

Section 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLsut3X_Ofw

Section 4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKaqhCWXgSA

Section 5:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoUzTcelt6Q

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Bryan
• Magee
• Frederick
• Copleston
• Continental
• Philosophy
• Will

[james0apple]

if they filmed this now it would consist of trendy haircuts moving their hands too much, looking up,down, in every direction and enthusiastically making vague and abstract statements about schopenhauer's personality and "what kind of man he was", while lauren laverne makes giggly ironic riposte's about how "he wasn't a smiles and sunshine type of bloke then! oh dear!" and it would last for 45 seconds before being interrupted by a performance by the kooks.

[LiberalVichy]

Take Heidegger's point here, though, about existence being centrally 'intentedness'. You must have a value judgment (which both Heidegger and Schopenhauer would say does not require conscious awareness of such a judgement) in order to direct your attention to the table, thoughts of the table, as opposed to anything else. You must, at least, think that the table-experience is worth 'looking into'. You can not exist as a conscious being without being 'up to something'.

[SwordInAir]

@james0apple Yess, yessssss you are spot on. Agh, so spot on!

[peteface24]

@chamlou That Copleston had come to very different conclusions to Schopenhauer doesn't mean he wasn't objective. He had written a book on Schopenhauer in particular in addition to his famous general history of philosophy so was clearly a respected authority on the subject, in the same way that Peter Singer is a respected authority on Hegel even though he disagrees strongly with him. Incidentally, Anthony Kenny used to be a priest as well.

[chamlou]

Is it me, or is the best dialog of of all his shows? I think they should have pointed out that Copelston was a Jesuit priest at the beginning of the show so as to point-out at least that this time around, objectivity is not the energy of the show.

[WSilva832]

Excellent discussion. 

[khashayar44]

Thanks very much for uploading this intellectually enriching discussion. Kant, Schopenhauer and Hegel were absolutely on the right track.

[jerryhello100]

@Ziggy2016 Just let go man. Life will be better if you aren't always on the offensive. We are all, ultimately, one; and therefore to call me a "faggit" [sic] you call yourself the same thing.