Question

I read that towards the end of his short life Kierkegaard encountered Schopenhauer's philosophy. However, it seems that he did not really like Schopenhauer (I believe he just made a dismissive remark that Schopenhauer does not practice what he preaches), which I find surprising, since the two great thinkers had a lot in common, like both had a pessimistic worldview, and both disliked scholastic systematic philosophy of the Hegelian type. What was it that made Kierkegaard dislike (disagree with) Schopenhauer and his philosophy? What aspect of Schopenhauer's philosophy did Kierkegaard reportedly find disagreeable?

A) Schopenhauer's pessimistic worldview
B) Schopenhauer's critique of Hegelian systematic philosophy
C) Schopenhauer's views on individualism
D) Schopenhauer's emphasis on the will to live

Answer 1

Kierkegaard might have disagreed with Schopenhauer due to their differing views on individualism, the nature of the will, and their respective religious commitments. Kierkegaard valued personal faith and authentic choices over Schopenhauer's deterministic will-to-live, leading to his dismissive remark about Schopenhauer.

Step-by-step explanation:

Søren Kierkegaard and Arthur Schopenhauer were two influential philosophers who indeed shared similarities such as disdain for Hegelian philosophy and a generally pessimistic view of life. However, the differences in their thoughts are crucial in understanding why Kierkegaard might have held a negative view of Schopenhauer's philosophy. One of the significant points of divergence lies in their approaches to individualism and the concept of the will.

Schopenhauer's philosophy posits that the will-to-live is the underlying force of existence, leading to suffering and a pessimistic view of the human struggle. Kierkegaard, on the other hand, emphasized individualism in the sense of a personal relationship with God, and the notion of making authentic choices. Kierkegaard's existential approach values the individual's capacity for self-realization through choices made in faith, rather than Schopenhauer's deterministic view of human will.

Moreover, Kierkegaard's religious commitments distinguish his philosophical framework significantly from Schopenhauer's. While Schopenhauer was influenced by Eastern philosophies and had a more cosmopolitan approach to religion, Kierkegaard's thought was deeply rooted in Christianity and the individual's subjective relationship with God. This difference could have led to Kierkegaard's dismissive remark that Schopenhauer did not practice what he preached, suggesting a perceived inconsistency in Schopenhauer's life and philosophy.

In summary, while Kierkegaard and Schopenhauer both critiqued the systematization of philosophy as seen in Hegel and exhibited pessimism, their fundamental disagreements on the role of the individual and the nature of the will, along with their differing religious commitments, likely contributed to Kierkegaard's negative view of Schopenhauer.