Шопенхауер и Платон

Abstract

The intellectual confession that Schopenhauer makes in his work “The world as Will and Representation” about the philosophical conceptions that influenced his philosophy prompted many questions concerning its theoretical validity, especially about Plato’s influence. These concerns were induced firstly by Russell who “unleashed the poison of skepticism” towards Schopenhauer’s confession. This article seeks to investigate the various intersections where these two conceptions meet and to evaluate the theoretical debt of Schopenhauer to Plato in the light of Russell’s skepticism. These intersections inspect their notion of “idea”, considering Schopenhauer’s reflections on Plato’s and Kant’s understanding of this term; the ontological status of the ideas in both philosophical systems and the problems that occur considering the transcendental nature of the ideas; the epistemological issues where emphasis is put on the significant role of art and the artist, especially music and the musician in Schopenhauer’s theory of knowledge; and the practical consequences of the contemplation of the ideas. There is no doubt that Schopenhauer is under Plato’s influence. But, the theory of ideas does not have such a fundamental role in Schopenhauer’s philosophy as in Plato’s. Schopenhauer’s goal isn’t giving an apodictic judgment for reality through the theory of ideas, but to “take a deep breath” from it. Therefore, Schopenhauer doesn’t owe anything to Plato, neither in a theoretical, nor in an ethical sense. Taking inspiration does not entail intellectual debt, it entails only deep respect. The “genius” is not indebted to anyone; he sees truth in eternity.