Author Topic: 230 Copies and 5 Students  (Read 306 times)

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Holden

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230 Copies and 5 Students
« on: November 26, 2017, 10:00:38 am »
In 1818(19?) ,when The World as Will and Representation was first published only 230 copies were sold. I wonder who bought those copies..

In 1820, 5 students turned up for Schopenhauer's lecture in the University of Berlin. I sometimes like to think about them,and envy them too. Though history is silent as to whether Schopenhauer delivered the entire lecture or not I think he might have.
He writes" If only I could get rid of the illusion of  regarding the generation of vipers and toads as my equals,it would be a great help to me". Yes, a generation of vipers and toads.

By the way, you might find it interesting to know that Karl Popper greatly admired Schopenhauer for having called out Hegel's bluff before almost anyone else.

Karl Popper writes about Schopenhauer in The Open Society and Its Enemies: "a Platonic idealist and a conservative , a man of supreme integrity who cherished truth beyond anything else. There can be no doubt that he was as competent a judge in philosophical matters as could be found."
La Tristesse Durera Toujours                                  (The Sadness Lasts Forever ...)
-van Gogh.

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Nation of One

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Re: 230 Copies and 5 Students
« Reply #1 on: November 26, 2017, 12:23:19 pm »
... a man of supreme integrity who cherished truth beyond anything else. There can be no doubt that he was as competent a judge in philosophical matters as could be found.

AMEN!

I actually am encouraged by the fact that only 230 copies of WWR sold, and that, when Schopenhauer was employed ever so briefly as a "professor," only 5 students were registered for his course.   They were flocking to Hegel's lectures.

Thank you Holden.  Yes, I do find it very interesting to know that Karl Popper greatly admired Schopenhauer for having called out Hegel's bluff before almost anyone else.   This is significant, and I am likely to pay attention when I come across Popper again.   John Marmysz mentions him several times in Laughing at Nothing: Humor As a Response to Nihilism.  He disagrees with Kant on more than a few points, but, then again, so did Schopenhauer. 

I had attempted to read the text several years back, but I could only get so far as I would read it out loud from the computer monitor while sipping whiskey and even listening to music in the background.  My voice would become hoarse.

But, what i wanted to say is that I am encouraged by how alone Schopenhauer was when he penned his thoughts to the future.  You may find that this can be a great help in enduring our times, our contemporaries, and all the vipers and toads, all those parading around as authority.

It is very much in line with your signature, "When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him." - Jonathan Swift

Things They Will Never Tell YouArthur Schopenhauer has been the most radical and defiant of all troublemakers.

Gorticide @ Nothing that is so, is so DOT edu

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