more from Arthur Schopenhauer

Single Idea 5649

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / B. Value / 1. Nature of Value / f. Ultimate value]

Full Idea

Since for Schopenhauer will has no intrinsic end, but breaks through all its temporary fulfilments and casts them aside as irrelevant once attained, it becomes impossible to assert that there is any ultimate aim to human activity.

Gist of Idea

Will casts aside each of its temporary fulfilments, so human life has no ultimate aim

Source

report of Arthur Schopenhauer (The World as Will and Idea [1819]) by Roger Scruton - Short History of Modern Philosophy Ch.13

Book Reference

Scruton,Roger: 'A Short History of Modern Philosophy' [ARK 1985], p.184


A Reaction

This sums up part of the modern anti-teleological view of life, with its notion of purposes which can only arise out of consciousnesses. Such a view leaves untouched the key question, which is "What should I will?"