Why Schopenhauer Hated Hegel
TLDRThe video script explores Arthur Schopenhauer's intense disdain for G.W.F. Hegel, highlighting the personal and philosophical animosities between the two philosophers. It delves into Schopenhauer's frustration with Hegel's popularity and perceived lack of scientific understanding, his convoluted writing style, and their contrasting views on history and philosophy. The script also examines the cultural shift of the 19th century that saw philosophy and science drifting apart, with Schopenhauer representing the old guard valuing scientific knowledge and Hegel embodying the new autonomous philosophical approach.
Takeaways
- π Schopenhauer despised Hegel on both personal and philosophical levels, considering him a charlatan and his philosophy nonsensical.
- π In 1820, Schopenhauer purposefully scheduled his lectures at the University of Berlin to clash with Hegel's, reflecting a deep-seated rivalry.
- π Hegel was a prominent figure in philosophy at the time, while Schopenhauer was relatively unknown, leading to sparse attendance at his lectures.
- π€ The roots of Schopenhauer's animosity towards Hegel are speculated to stem from personal dislike and philosophical disagreement, possibly reinforcing each other.
- π Schopenhauer believed that a philosopher should have a strong foundation in the natural sciences, which he felt Hegel lacked.
- π Hegel's philosophy was criticized by Schopenhauer for its lack of scientific grounding and for promoting ideas that were demonstrably incorrect.
- π Schopenhauer was known for his clear and concise writing style, in stark contrast to Hegel's dense and often incomprehensible prose.
- π Schopenhauer valued the study of history and philosophy as distinct disciplines, in opposition to Hegel who viewed history as a rational process leading to an ultimate end.
- π Hegel's popularity and optimistic view of history and philosophy stood in contrast to Schopenhauer's pessimism and emphasis on the unchanging nature of the world.
- π¬ Schopenhauer's insults and criticisms of Hegel are well-documented, often focusing on Hegel's writing style and perceived lack of intellectual rigor.
- π The philosophical differences between Schopenhauer and Hegel highlight a broader cultural shift in the 19th century, with the separation of philosophy and science becoming more pronounced.
Q & A
Why did Arthur Schopenhauer despise Hegel?
-Arthur Schopenhauer despised Hegel due to a combination of personal animosity and philosophical disagreement. He viewed Hegel as a charlatan and his philosophy as nonsensical, and he also disliked Hegel's approach to teaching and writing.
What was Schopenhauer's strategy when he began teaching at the University of Berlin?
-Schopenhauer deliberately scheduled his lectures at the same time as Hegel's to make a point about his disdain for Hegel's philosophy, despite knowing that this would likely result in few attendees at his own lectures.
What was the outcome of Schopenhauer's test lecture at the University of Berlin?
-Schopenhauer passed the test lecture, receiving passing marks from everyone on the jury, including Hegel. This allowed him to become a teacher at the University of Berlin.
What incident during Schopenhauer's test lecture highlighted a philosophical disagreement between him and Hegel?
-Hegel asked Schopenhauer about the reasons for a horse lying down on the street, to which Schopenhauer replied it was due to tiredness from its heartbeat and blood flow. Hegel questioned whether such animal functions could be classified as reasons, leading to a debate that was settled in Schopenhauer's favor when the professor of medicine supported his position.
How did Schopenhauer view the relationship between philosophy and science?
-Schopenhauer believed that a philosopher should have a firm grasp on the natural sciences and that being well-versed in science was a prerequisite to being a good philosopher. He saw his metaphysical theories as accounting for various biological observations and considered this scientific knowledge as a major strength of his work.
What were some of Hegel's controversial ideas related to science?
-Hegel had some strange ideas about science, such as presenting an a priori proof that only seven celestial bodies could exist in our solar system, which was disproven when Ceres was discovered. He also incorrectly argued that an object could increase in weight due to magnetism without an increase in mass.
How did Schopenhauer's interest in science influence his philosophy?
-Schopenhauer's lifelong interest in science influenced his philosophy by leading him to develop metaphysical theories that accounted for biological observations. He believed that understanding the natural world was crucial to developing a comprehensive philosophy.
What was Schopenhauer's opinion on Hegel's writing style?
-Schopenhauer criticized Hegel's writing style as incomprehensible, tedious, and meandering. He believed that Hegel used difficult words and long sentences to create the illusion of profundity while actually conveying nonsense.
How did Schopenhauer's philosophy of history differ from Hegel's?
-Schopenhauer viewed history as a study of the changing manifestations of the unchanging will, which exists outside of space and time. In contrast, Hegel saw history as a rational process where the Geist or Spirit develops itself through time towards a predetermined end goal, representing progress and the realization of human freedom.
What is the fundamental distinction between Schopenhauer's and Hegel's philosophies in terms of being and becoming?
-The fundamental distinction lies in their views on change and constancy. Schopenhauer's philosophy is concerned with 'being', focusing on the unchanging will, while Hegel's philosophy is concerned with 'becoming', emphasizing the process of historical development and change.
Why did Schopenhauer believe that Hegel's philosophy was detrimental to German culture?
-Schopenhauer believed that Hegel's incomprehensible writing style and fundamentally different philosophy of history, which he saw as irrational and optimistic, stupefied an entire generation and represented a disaster for German culture by promoting a false sense of progress and reason in history.
Outlines
π Schopenhauer's Disdain for Hegel's Philosophy
The video script begins with an exploration of Arthur Schopenhauer's deep-seated animosity towards Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, whom he considered a charlatan and a purveyor of nonsensical ideas. Schopenhauer's disdain is attributed to both personal antipathy and philosophical disagreement. The narrative sets the stage for the year 1820, when Schopenhauer, having published his magnum opus and secured a position at the University of Berlin, deliberately schedules his lectures to clash with Hegel's, a strategy that reflects his contempt for the latter's philosophical approach. The script hints at a deeper dive into the roots of this animosity, suggesting a combination of personal rivalry and fundamental differences in their philosophical beliefs.
ποΈ The Philosophical and Personal Rift Between Hegel and Schopenhauer
This paragraph delves into the first known interaction between Hegel and Schopenhauer at the University of Berlin, where Hegel, as head of the philosophy faculty, challenges Schopenhauer during a test lecture. The debate revolves around the classification of animal functions, with Schopenhauer arguing for a more precise use of terminology, which is eventually supported by a medical professor. This incident is portrayed as a catalyst for Schopenhauer's growing resentment, viewing Hegel's mistake as emblematic of his superficial understanding of philosophy and science. The paragraph also touches on the broader historical context of the 19th century, highlighting the shifting relationship between philosophy and science, with Schopenhauer representing the traditional view that a philosopher should be well-versed in both.
π Hegel's Misconceptions in Science and Philosophy
The script continues to criticize Hegel's understanding of science, citing examples of his erroneous ideas about astronomy, physics, and biology. Schopenhauer, with his background in medicine and a lifelong interest in science, finds these mistakes unforgivable, especially from a figure of Hegel's stature. The paragraph underscores Schopenhauer's belief in the inseparability of philosophy from scientific thought, contrasting Hegel's more autonomous approach to philosophy. This difference in their views on the role of science in philosophy is presented as a key element of their philosophical divergence.
π Schopenhauer's Critique of Hegel's Writing Style and Popularity
This section of the script focuses on Schopenhauer's disdain for Hegel's writing style, which he perceives as intentionally obscure and pretentious. Schopenhauer is praised for his clarity and conciseness in contrast to Hegel's convoluted prose. The video suggests that Hegel's popularity and influence, despite his perceived lack of clarity, had a detrimental effect on German intellectual culture, promoting a style of writing that prioritized complexity over comprehension. Schopenhauer's own philosophy is presented as being more accessible and grounded in simplicity, which he believed was a testament to the profundity of his ideas.
π°οΈ Schopenhauer's View on the Philosophy of History
The final paragraph contrasts the fundamental philosophical differences between Schopenhauer and Hegel, particularly their views on history. While Hegel sees history as a rational process with a positive end goal, reflecting the development of the 'Geist' or Spirit, Schopenhauer regards history as a series of repetitive and unchanging events, devoid of inherent rationality or progress. Schopenhauer's pessimism is juxtaposed with Hegel's optimism, and the script suggests that Schopenhauer's lack of fame during his lifetime, compared to Hegel's celebrity status, may have fueled his animosity. The video concludes by acknowledging the complexity of the factors contributing to Schopenhauer's disdain for Hegel, inviting further exploration of their philosophical differences.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Hegel
π‘Schopenhauer
π‘Philosophical disagreement
π‘Personal animosity
π‘Geist
π‘Pessimism
π‘Optimism
π‘Writing style
π‘Metaphor
π‘Philosophy of history
π‘Natural sciences
Highlights
Schopenhauer's intense disdain for Hegel, viewing him as a charlatan and his writings as nonsensical, potentially stemming from both personal animosity and philosophical disagreement.
The historical context of 1820, where Schopenhauer secured a position at the University of Berlin, deliberately scheduling his lectures to clash with Hegel's to make a statement.
Schopenhauer's belief that Hegel's popularity and philosophical approach overshadowed genuine intellectual pursuit and clarity in philosophy.
The incident during Schopenhauer's professorship exam where Hegel's question about a horse was seen by Schopenhauer as a display of Hegel's ignorance in philosophy and science.
Schopenhauer's commitment to the integration of science and philosophy, in contrast to Hegel's perceived detachment from scientific rigor.
Hegel's controversial ideas in science, such as the a priori proof of only seven celestial bodies in our solar system, which Schopenhauer criticized.
Schopenhauer's critique of Hegel's understanding of gravity, highlighting a fundamental misunderstanding of physics and logic.
The broader cultural shift in the 19th century where philosophy and science began to diverge, with Schopenhauer representing the old ideal and Hegel the new autonomous philosophy.
Schopenhauer's advocacy for clear and concise writing in philosophy, as opposed to Hegel's complex and difficult prose, which he saw as a sign of charlatanism.
The argument that Schopenhauer's hatred for Hegel might have been influenced by personal envy and a desire for recognition that he never achieved in his lifetime.
Schopenhauer's view that Hegel's philosophy was not only nonsensical but also damaging to the intellectual development of an entire generation.
The fundamental philosophical difference between Schopenhauer and Hegel in their approach to history and the concept of 'being' versus 'becoming'.
Hegel's view of history as a rational and progressive process towards the realization of human freedom, in stark contrast to Schopenhauer's pessimistic outlook.
Schopenhauer's criticism of Hegel's philosophy of history, accusing him of confusing history with philosophy and failing to grasp the eternal truths of existence.
The conclusion that Schopenhauer's hatred for Hegel was likely a combination of personal animosity, philosophical disagreement, and professional envy.
Transcripts
Hegel a repulsive mindless charlatan an
unparalleled Scribbler of nonsense
Arthur schopenhauer hated Hegel he
called him a charlatan insipid a
laughingstock hollow senseless
stupefying his rambling writings would
completely destroy the minds of an
entire generation his meaningless
scribbles would become a monument to
German stupidity
Eagles pseudo philosophy would provide
posterity with never-ending Amusements
it's the year 1820. Arthur schopenhauer
has just published his magnum opus he
won a prestigious position at the
University of Berlin teaching philosophy
however he purposefully scheduled his
lectures at the same time as those of
his colleague Hegel Germany's most
famous philosopher
200 students attended hegel's lectures
only five attended schopenhauer's often
he lectured to an empty room
of course schopenhauer knew exactly what
he was doing after all Hegel was a
superstar in schopenhauer a nobody it
was entirely to be expected that no one
would attend his lectures still
schopenhauer wanted to make a point
he hated Hegel he hated his philosophy
he hated his way of doing philosophy and
everything the man stood for just where
does this hatred come from that's the
question we'll try to answer in this
video by the way we cover a lot of
schopenhauer right here on the channel
so please subscribe if you're interested
there is plenty more to come with that
said let's Dive In
as with all questions of this nature
there is a degree of speculation
involved in this case there seems to be
an agreement that schopenhauer's hatred
of Hegel comes from two sources
first personal animosity schopenhauer
simply didn't like Hegel as a person
second philosophical disagreement
in all likelihood these two aspects
mutually strengthened and ignited one
another the main debate is really more
of a chicken and egg problem did
schopenhauer disagree with Hegel because
he disliked him or did he dislike him
because he disagreed with him
we will probably never know but in this
video we want to present you with some
objective facts and we'll let you
reviewer decide we'll go over both
schopenhauer's personal problems with
Hegel as well as his philosophical
disagreements
we've already shared some biographical
information earlier when we mentioned
how schopenhauer stubbornly arranged for
his lectures to be at the same time as
hegel's it makes sense to start there at
the point in time where both men shared
the same workplace the University of
Berlin in the year 1820. speaking of
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this video
now back to Hegel we're at the
University of Berlin and schopenhauer
has just won a professorship there just
one technicality remains he needs to
give a lecture to an audience of
professors kind of like an exam or a
test run among the attendants was Hegel
the head of the philosophy faculty
the test lecture itself is nothing
special it was about a traditional
philosophical topic the four causes of
Aristotle but it's during this lecture
that we find the first real-life
interaction between schopenhauer and
Hegel
Hegel asked schopenhauer about the
reasons for a horse to lie down on the
street
schopenhauer replied because it's tired
which is a result of its heartbeat and
blood flow among other things
Hegel then asked whether he thought that
such animal functions as heartbeat and
blood circulation could be classified as
reasons
you can tell things are getting very
technical nitpicky even but remember
this is basically a philosophy exam
we're talking about
schopenhauer correct the table
he said that only conscious movements of
the body are animal functions
the implication here is that Hegel asked
a nonsensical question because he used
the wrong term
in any case the debate was settled when
the professor of medicine intervened and
supported schopenhauer's position
schopenhauer passed the exam receiving
passing marks from everyone in the jury
including Hegel and from now on he would
be a teacher at the University of Berlin
this little incident with Hegel using
the wrong philosophical term to ask
schopenhauer a question is the first
real-life interaction between these two
men that we know of we know for a fact
that schopenhauer was an arrogant
individual it's very likely that this
episode sowed the seeds of hatred From
schopenhauer's perspective here we have
a philosophical charlatan trying to come
across as intelligence even belligerent
by asking a quote unquote tough question
but Falling flat on his face by using
the wrong term remember Hegel was the
philosophical Superstar of this time all
serious philosophers in Germany called
themselves hegelians schopenhauer
believed he was basically the only one
who saw true hegel's tricks and word
salads and saw him for the no Talent
charlatan that he was and then during
schopenhauer's philosophy exam Hegel
made this rudimentary beginner's Mistake
by imprecisely using a philosophical
term
this must have enraged schopenhauer and
confirmed everything he thought about
Hegel that he was just a pretender and
not a serious philosopher
all of this is about Hegel as a person
however but this little episode is worth
mentioning because it leads us neatly to
one of schopenhauer's main objections to
hegel's philosophy the 19th century is
an interesting period in the history of
philosophy broadly speaking philosophy
and science have been intertwined since
philosophy's Beginnings without diving
too deep into history consider for
example Aristotle who wrote extensively
on philosophy but also on biology
chemistry and physics
Grenada cartes was a mathematician and a
philosopher as recent as Emmanuel Kant
wrote papers on geology and astronomy it
was assumed if not required that a
philosopher should have a firm grasp on
the Natural Sciences that's where the
term natural philosophy comes from being
almost synonymous with what we today
would call Modern hard science
for a prominent example look no further
than Isaac Newton's Landmark work on
gravity the full title of which reads
Philadelphia naturalist principia
Mathematica or mathematical principles
of natural philosophy but in the 19th
century the time of Hegel and
schopenhauer this marriage of Science
and philosophy was starting to crumble
amazing advancements in the scientific
field led to a gradual divorce of these
two disciplines first of all it became
impossible to be well-versed in science
simply due to the sheer volume of new
discoveries being made and second a
sentiment started to brew that science
doesn't need philosophy at best or that
science is held back by philosophy at
worst
still the divorce was far from finalized
the 19th century is a transitional
period and schopenhauer belonged to the
Old Guard
he studied medicine for two years before
switching to philosophy but even after
his change of program he attended more
scientific lectures than philosophical
ones he had a lifelong interest in the
sciences and up until the end of his
life he was subscribed to Scientific
journals and read them to stay up to
date on the latest discoveries and
developments for schopenhauer being well
versed in science was a prerequisite to
being a good philosopher in fact he
viewed it as a major strength of his
work that his metaphysical theories also
accounted for a slew of biological
observations most notably on the
behavior of animals and plants
throughout his writings he refers
constantly to a wide variety of animal
species explaining their behaviors in
terms of his philosophy schopenhauer is
even quoted by Charles Darwin in his
work The Descent of Man
all of this is to say that schopenhauer
thoughts science was pretty important
and then there's Hegel
it's a well-documented fact that Hegel
had some pretty strange ideas where
science was concerned one famous story
tells of a dissertation by Hegel which
presented a so-called a priori proof
that only seven celestial bodies could
ever exist in our solar system
the dissertation was published and not
even a year later a new dwarf planet was
discovered Ceres in between Mars and
Jupiter
another Infamous example is hegel's idea
on gravity in his philosophy of nature
he writes about a physics experiment
if we place an iron bar on a fulcrum and
put a magnet underneath one side of the
bar then the bar will tip towards the
magnet and lose its equilibrium
Hegel argued that because the one pole
of the bar drops towards the floor that
this pole has just become heavier the
experiment proves according to Hegel
that an object can experience an
increase in weight without an increase
in Mass schopenhauer lambasted Hegel for
this idea in a notorious essay not only
does Hegel display a complete lack of
understanding of physics he even gets
the fundamental logic wrong
here then the distinguished philosopher
makes the following inference if a bar
supported at its center of gravity
subsequently becomes heavier on one side
then it falls to that side but an iron
bar Falls to one side once it has been
magnetized therefore it has become
heavier in that place a worthy analog to
the inference all geese have two legs
you have two legs therefore you are a
goose
earlier in the video we talked about
Hegel and schopenhauer's disagreement on
what constitutes an animal function with
schopenhauer's view ultimately gaining
favor of the professor of medicine and
biology at the University
this was another instance at least in
schopenhauer's eyes that Hegel is simply
ignorant on matters of science he would
sarcastically call him Mr know nothing
after this altercation
so to recap Hegel thought that our solar
system could only have seven celestial
bodies in it wrong he argued that an
object could increase in weight due to
magnetism wrong and he used the term
animal functions to describe unconscious
bodily movements of animals
also wrong
Hegel made some pretty damning errors in
three different fields astronomy physics
and biology
for schopenhauer the lifelong science
Enthusiast and former medicine student
with a passion for biology this was
simply unacceptable for any serious
philosopher let alone the quote unquote
distinguished philosopher Hegel the
Superstar of the time this part of the
schopenhauer Hegel animosity is
indicative of a wider cultural shift
happening around this time in history
like we alluded to earlier in the 19th
century we see the gradual divorce of
philosophy and science each going their
own way so to speak schopenhauer can be
said to represent the old ideal of the
philosopher who is as much engaged with
scientific thought as with philosophical
matters while Hegel represents the new
style of doing philosophy autonomous
from science
this shift in thinking is bigger than
either schopenhauer or Hegel kirkegaard
for example who criticized Hegel heavily
is nonetheless also an example of a
philosopher who had no formal schooling
or even serious interest in science the
question of whether a philosopher should
be well versed in science or not is
beyond the scope of this video but
schopenhauer for one certainly thought
so and he considered it a major flaw of
Hegel both as a person and a philosopher
that he with all the confidence in the
world exclaimed wild and wrong ideas
that even in their time were recognized
as simply unscientific
every student of philosophy will tell
you the same thing hegel's writing is
incomprehensible even in his own time
his writing was considered to be overly
tedious Meandering unclear but
nonetheless due to hegel's stardom it
quickly became the way in which German
intellectuals were supposed to write a
good example of this is found in the
prose essays of Richard Wagner which are
similarly demonized as incomprehensible
with run-on sentences that go on for
entire paragraphs and the pretentious
use of difficult words were a simpler
one would clearly suffice
but that's how you were supposed to
write if you wanted to come across as a
serious intellectual and it's part of
hegel's legacy
contrast to this with schopenhauer who
is universally braced for his clear
concise prose his ability to articulate
profound truths and simple words and his
talent for finding the perfect analogies
and metaphors to explain his ideas
the most consistent feature of
schopenhauer's attacks on Hegel are
about his horrible writing style for
example
the height of audacity in serving up
pure nonsense and stringing together
senseless and extravagant Mazes of words
such as had previously only been heard
in Mad houses was finally reached in
Hegel and became the instrument of the
most barefaced General mystification
that has ever taken place
for schopenhauer hegel's writing style
was the ultimate proof of his
charlatanism using difficult words and
long sentences to confuse the reader and
create the illusion that something
profound was said when in reality only
nonsense was spoken you need only read
one page of Hegel schopenhauer argues
and ask yourself the question is this
person honestly searching for truth or
is there someone who merely tries to
appear smart the answer to that question
will allow you to see through hegel's
sophistry immediately
meanwhile schopenhauer prided himself on
the clarity of his own writing style he
often repeated that his goal was to
write in German in the way that David
Hume wrote in English that is to say
with extraordinary Clarity for
schopenhauer the height of philosophy
consisted in conveying big truths and
small words
Simplicity does not stand in the way of
profanity in fact schopenhauer would
probably argue that the mere fact that a
truth can be expressed simply is proof
of its truthfulness the first sentence
of his main work reads the world is my
representation a simple sentence that
contains a great deal of Truth a
formulation of a few words that
nonetheless carries an entire book of
meaning schopenhauer is also viewed as a
master of metaphor time and again he
elucidates his philosophical concepts
with metaphors that are so striking and
clear that you can't help but admire his
talent for this we know that he spent a
great deal of time in trying to come up
with the perfect metaphor to explain a
concept and clearly his efforts paid off
just think of the famous Hedgehog's
dilemma which is simply a metaphor for
how humans interact with one another but
a metaphor so influential it started to
lead its own life
above all hegel's writing style and the
lack of content of course has stupefied
an entire generation hegel's enduring
popularity was a disaster for German
culture in the words of schopenhauer
an obscuring of the mind which can only
be explained by the fact that these
men's Minds unfortunately like thousands
more at the present day in Germany are
completely spoiled and distorted by the
miserable hegelism that school of
dullness that Center of misunderstanding
and ignorance that mind- destroying
spurious wisdom which now at last begins
to be recognized as such
finally a word on hegel's philosophy
proper ironically schopenhauer doesn't
spend a lot of time actually criticizing
hegel's philosophy he simply insults him
and assumes that he doesn't even need to
argue his position
so obvious that hegel's philosophy is
bunk that he doesn't want to waste too
much words arguing that position some
commentators accuse schopenhauer of
having ulterior motives they argued that
schopenhauer doesn't explicitly
criticize hegel's philosophy because in
their view both schopenhauer and hegel's
philosophies have a lot of similarities
so in order to both maintain his hatred
of Hegel and to not expose himself for
having a similar philosophy schopenhauer
stays silent the argument goes that
schopenhauer hated Hegel for purely
personal reasons and therefore he had to
resort to insults instead of arguments
however there is one area in which
schopenhauer engaged more or less
directly with hegel's philosophy and
that is in his conception of History
and we will argue that this discussion
on History actually shows us how
completely different schopenhauer's
philosophy is from heagles all the way
to the most fundamental distinction in
philosophy being versus becoming
what do we mean by this the key to
understanding the fundamental difference
between schopenhauer and Hegel is to be
found in how both men regarded history
history plays a prominent role in Hugo's
philosophy in fact you could say his
philosophy hinges upon it history is a
process by which the Geist or Spirit
comes to know itself and develops itself
history is an intelligible rational
process where things move towards a
predetermined destination the
realization of human freedom gradually
and through certain world historical
events history will come to an end when
the Geist becomes absolutized when the
Geist turns on itself and completes
itself and fully comes to know itself
this is the end of History all
intermediate steps along the way
represent progress towards that final
end for example the Geist was at work
through Napoleon whose conquest of
Europe constituted a world historical
event whereby ideals of the French
Revolution were synthesized and exported
out of France Hegel tries to find reason
in history Because he believes that
history and therefore the world and
therefore humans are fundamentally
rational that there is a method to the
madness
a rational process underpins all of
history and in the hegelian system the
Geist will develop and unfold itself
through time whether or not any
particular human is ready to carry out
its work the development of the Geist is
not contingent it's something that must
happen by necessity in other words the
Napoleonic conquest of Europe must have
happened with or without Napoleon if
Napoleon Bonaparte as an individual had
not been born someone else would have
acted in a similar way as to further
complete the march of the Geist true
history
by the way we've done a dedicated video
to Hegel and schopenhauer and their
views on Napoleon and his significance
in world history link in the description
let's quickly recap and go over some
characteristics that Hegel assigns to
history
is rational history has a positive end
goal history changes in a good way
because it moves towards the goal
every single point here runs counter to
schopenhauer's ideas Hegel confuses
history with philosophy and this
critical error is why Hegel and
schopenhauer fundamentally disagree
because for schopenhauer history and
philosophy are Polar Opposites
since history studies primarily the
particular is the opposite and
counterpart to philosophy which is
concerned only with the general
while history teaches us that at every
time something else has been philosophy
tries to assist us to the insights that
at all times exactly the same was is and
shall be
schopenhauer considers philosophy to be
the study of the Eternal of the
unchanging of course this is completely
in line with his main philosophy which
posits the existence of a singular will
which manifests itself in the multitude
of our material world but which is in
essence unchanging
and schopenhauer's philosophy the will
exists outside of space and time and
therefore outside of History this
unchanging Eternal Timeless and
spaceless thing is the true object of
philosophy history would be the study of
the changing manifestations of this will
through time as they appear to us in the
world as representation
symbolically we can therefore say that
history studies length while philosophy
studies death or in other words history
studies becoming while philosophy
studies being schopenhauer accuses Hegel
of confusing these two disciplines he
Styles himself a philosopher but is
actually in the business of studying
history
upon this rests the opposition between
philosophical and historical Minds the
former want to go to the bottom the
latter want to go through the whole
series because philosophy studies the
unchanging will which is the true kernel
of existence it follows that history in
schopenhauer's view is nothing more than
a repetition of the same we can
summarize it with the Latin phrase ay
Adam said aliter the same but different
the hegelian mistake is to confuse the
appearance for the reality to build a
philosophy upon ever-changing history
fundamentally a Fool's aren't all those
who set up such constructions of the
course of the world or as they call it
of history have failed to grasp the
principal truth of all philosophy we've
done a deep dive on schopenhauer's
philosophy of History which goes to the
core of what is being discussed here we
highly recommend you check it out if
this interests you link in description
schopenhauer also rejects the notion
that history or the world is
fundamentally rational and therefore
good schopenhauer was in fact one of the
first major Western philosophers to
argue that the world isn't a
fundamentally rational place that there
is little hope for Redemption and that
history is not the gradual process of
humanity evolving towards some definite
desirable end goal in short Hegel was an
optimist and schopenhauer a pessimist
that is really all what it boils down to
so what can we conclude why did
schopenhauer hates Hegel we've given a
number of possible explanations and
probably the final answer is that all of
these contributed in some way we have
the unfriendly real-life encounter
between the two men at the University of
Berlin we have hegel's flimsy grasp of
the hard Sciences we have hegel's
incomprehensible writing style we have
hegel's fundamentally different
philosophy of course we shouldn't gloss
over the fact that schopenhauer was by
all accounts an arrogant know-it-all
with a short temper and we know that
schopenhauer deeply desired Fame but
never got it at least not until very
late in life while Hegel the so-called
charlatan was world famous
all of these factors probably
contributed to the vile tie rates that
jobenhauer wrote and that have
immortalized him as one of hegel's
fiercest opponents not for his critiques
but for his insults
still we can probably dive deeper into
the differences in schopenhauer's
philosophy versus that of Hegel but this
video is long enough as it is if there
is enough interest expressed in the
comments we'll definitely explore the
topic further
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