Die Welt Als Wille Und Vorstellung Analysis
We have established that life is meaningless and valueless. Then why do we exist? Shouldn’t we just be in a state of non-existence? Schopenhauer’s standpoint on suicide emphasizes the separation from suffering through the negation of the Will. In fact, suicide, “Schopenhauer argues […], fails to achieve [freedom from suffering], primarily because it is an act of will that confirms, rather than denies, the Will-to-life [as this act] involves the individual will’s willfully seeking to exterminate itself as a way of escaping the wretchedness of willing”. (C.R.Trogan, Suicide and Freedom from Suffering in Schopenhauer’s “Die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung”, p.5). Nevertheless, Schopenhauer does not overlook the fact an individual has the right to commit suicide in an attempt to escape ones suffering, he just doesn’t believe that freedom, in that viewpoint is achievable. As taking your life shows “unawareness of the futility of the individual will and the experience of the wholeness and totality of will-in-itself. One has the freedom to destroy oneself, but one’s freedom to free oneself from suffering is an illusion” (C.R.Trogan,
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Suicide and Freedom from Suffering in Schopenhauer’s “Die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung”, p.5). Hence implementing the fact that suicide is a means to escaping life’s suffering thus embracing the will to live whereas denial of the Will is to refuse the most basic desires such as nourishment and therefore, escaping life’s pleasures. Thus the only way to achieve freedom from suffering is through the negation of the Will. However, it is not something you decide on, it happens to you, it occurs “when you suffer so much that the Will-to-life within you, rebels and turns against life” (Podcast, Philosophy now).
Furthermore, it is interesting to point out that Schopenhauer felt very strongly against suicide as “[suicide], is actually accounted a crime; and a crime which […] is followed by an ignominious burial and the seizure of the man’s property” (Schopenhauer, On Suicide).
His approach on suicide is quite inconsistent. For instance, if “the aim of life is death, and death is an unreal aspect of the world as appearance” (D. Jacquette, Schopenhauer on the ethics of suicide) how is suicide not justified? To me, it is quite unclear to why Schopenhauer regards suicide as a crime. One incident that come to my mind is the fact that as a teenager, Schopenhauer father, whom he was close to committed suicide. Hence is it because his own father committed suicide that he rebukes the act? To what extent has this event influenced his opinion regarding
suicide?
Additionally, I believe that suicide is far from being a cowardly or courageous act, I'd argue that suicide is a natural phenomenon that is part of our evolved consciousness as human beings. As conscious creatures we think and feel regardless of our will and there are instances when our thoughts and emotions are overwhelming and hence difficult to control. Thus, an individual reaches a point whereby he is convinced that his well-being cannot possibly be improved without freeing himself from his thoughts and emotions. Seen in this light, suicide is a viable means to free oneself from the burden of consciousness. Moreover, suppose for instance, that a man that commits suicide seems to claim by his actions that life is not worth living. Isn’t he condemning the life he has lived rather than life itself? Doesn’t his gesture prove that he has regrets thus acknowledging the fact that suicide shows that life does indeed have meaning and “worth” living even without value?
Suicide and Freedom from Suffering in Schopenhauer’s “Die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung”, p.5). Hence implementing the fact that suicide is a means to escaping life’s suffering thus embracing the will to live whereas denial of the Will is to refuse the most basic desires such as nourishment and therefore, escaping life’s pleasures. Thus the only way to achieve freedom from suffering is through the negation of the Will. However, it is not something you decide on, it happens to you, it occurs “when you suffer so much that the Will-to-life within you, rebels and turns against life” (Podcast, Philosophy now).
Furthermore, it is interesting to point out that Schopenhauer felt very strongly against suicide as “[suicide], is actually accounted a crime; and a crime which […] is followed by an ignominious burial and the seizure of the man’s property” (Schopenhauer, On Suicide).
His approach on suicide is quite inconsistent. For instance, if “the aim of life is death, and death is an unreal aspect of the world as appearance” (D. Jacquette, Schopenhauer on the ethics of suicide) how is suicide not justified? To me, it is quite unclear to why Schopenhauer regards suicide as a crime. One incident that come to my mind is the fact that as a teenager, Schopenhauer father, whom he was close to committed suicide. Hence is it because his own father committed suicide that he rebukes the act? To what extent has this event influenced his opinion regarding
suicide?
Additionally, I believe that suicide is far from being a cowardly or courageous act, I'd argue that suicide is a natural phenomenon that is part of our evolved consciousness as human beings. As conscious creatures we think and feel regardless of our will and there are instances when our thoughts and emotions are overwhelming and hence difficult to control. Thus, an individual reaches a point whereby he is convinced that his well-being cannot possibly be improved without freeing himself from his thoughts and emotions. Seen in this light, suicide is a viable means to free oneself from the burden of consciousness. Moreover, suppose for instance, that a man that commits suicide seems to claim by his actions that life is not worth living. Isn’t he condemning the life he has lived rather than life itself? Doesn’t his gesture prove that he has regrets thus acknowledging the fact that suicide shows that life does indeed have meaning and “worth” living even without value?