Transcription
1820年秋，在柏林，一位男士走上讲台。他坚信自己是超越时代的的天才。然而，教室里却一个学生也没有。同一时间，同一栋楼，仅一墙之隔。左边的教室里，学生们挤满了过道，约200人坐得满满当当，奋笔疾书。右边的教室，空荡荡的椅子，只有阳光投下的尘埃，以及独自站立的男人——阿图尔·叔本华。他故意将自己的讲课时间定在黑格尔的同一时间。为什么？因为他称黑格尔为骗子，并坚信自己的哲学将拯救世界。因此，他选择了正面挑战。他认为，在真理面前，大众会选择他。第一天，有五名学生。一周后，两名学生。一个月后，零名学生。结果惨不忍睹。黑格尔200名学生对叔本华0名。一个人的自尊心完全崩溃，只需要一次就足够了。此后，他一生再也没有回到大学。然而，这份屈辱却催生了人类历史上最犬儒、也最坦诚的哲学。他究竟是怎样一个人，才会遭受如此惨败？这件事又如何改变了他的人生？现在，就让我们开始讲述这个故事。1788年2月22日，在德国北部港口城市但泽，一个孩子诞生了。他叫阿图尔·叔本华。他是世代相传的商人家庭的儿子。父亲海因里希·叔本华是一位成功的商人。每当船只靠岸，他的仓库就堆满了货物。丝绸、香料、茶叶、瓷器，来自世界各地的珍贵物品都经他之手。他不缺钱。母亲约翰娜是一位有教养的女士。她热爱读书，也热爱生活。如同当时德国富裕的士绅家庭一样，叔本华家也十分阔绰。宽敞的宅邸、仆人、花园，衣食住行、学习条件都十分优越。无论谁看，这都是一个幸福的诞生。年幼的阿图尔是个聪明的孩子。他读书很快，问题很多。爸爸，人们为什么需要工作？为什么会有穷人？为什么不是所有人都快乐？父亲不喜欢这些问题。别想那些没用的事。商人只要把生意做好就行。然而，这个孩子日后却会说出这样的话：不出生是最好的。在如此优越的环境中长大的孩子，为何会说出这样的话呢？答案在于他的父亲。海因里希·叔本华。表面上看，他是一位成功人士。生意兴隆，不缺钱财，社会地位也很高。然而，他却有着阴暗的一面。他不快乐。准确地说，他感到不安。他总是担心着什么。生意破产了怎么办？别人会不会骗我？这一切会不会有一天都会崩塌？他成功了，但并不安宁。他有钱，但并不平静。随着年龄的增长，这份不安逐渐演变成了疾病。晚年，海因里希饱受严重的抑郁症折磨。他开始出现被害妄想。所有人都想骗我。谁都不能信。他怀疑所有人，甚至包括家人。雪上加霜的是，他的听力也开始衰退。起初，他听不清高音。渐渐地，情况越来越糟，连别人的话也听不清了。在那个没有助听器的时代，失去听力意味着与世界的隔绝。无法与人交流，海因里希变得越来越孤立。他不再去办公室，也不再见朋友。只是独自坐在家里。年幼的阿图尔就是在这样的父亲身边长大的。他明白了，成功人士也可能不快乐，有钱也可能不平静。这成为了他看待世界的第一副眼镜。人生并非有所保障。幸福并非永恒。一切都可能崩塌。叔本华进入青少年时期，与父亲的冲突也正式开始。父亲的期望很明确：你必须成为商人。我们家世代都是商人。然而，阿图尔却不同。他热爱读书，尤其是哲学书。他读柏拉图的对话录，赞叹不已。就是这个！这才是真正重要的东西？人生的意义、真理、本质。然而，父亲却无法理解。把那些没用的书都扔掉。看看账本。懂数字就行，哲学有什么重要？爸爸，我想去文科学校。文科？别去那种没用的地方，去学商业。但我喜欢思考。我想探索真理。真理？糊口才是真理。商人的儿子就该当商人。这样的对话无休止地重复着。父亲无法理解儿子，儿子怨恨父亲。冲突愈演愈烈。终于，在1803年，叔本华15岁那年。一天，父亲提出了一个提议。阿图尔，我有一个特别的提议给你。我带你游遍欧洲。15岁的少年眼中闪烁着光芒。真的吗？是的。法国、英国、荷兰、比利时、瑞士，我都会让你看到。哇。但是，有一个条件。父亲的声音低沉了下来。回来后，你必须去商业学校，而不是文科学校。这是交易。如果你想要旅行，就必须听我的。这对15岁的少年来说，是一个过于残酷的选择。欧洲旅行。在当时，游遍欧洲是一项巨大的特权。大多数人一生都未能离开自己的城市。但代价却很大。他必须放弃成为哲学家的梦想。他必须成为一名商人。阿图尔犹豫了好几天。晚上也睡不好觉。是去旅行？还是放弃？但是，如果去旅行，就不能学习哲学。可如果放弃旅行，又会终生后悔。最终，他选择了旅行。他甚至没有和朋友告别。对15岁的少年来说，眼前的诱惑太大了。先去旅行吧。以后的事以后再说。1803年5月，他与父亲一同踏上了欧洲之旅。然而，这次旅行与他所期待的完全不同。叔本华看到的不仅仅是华丽的欧洲文明。当他抵达英国伦敦时。虽然有华丽的宫殿和宅邸，但吸引他目光的却是别的东西。是贫民窟。狭窄的巷子里住满了人。衣衫褴褛的孩子们在街头乞讨。病人们躺在路边。这就是大英帝国的首都吗？叔本华震惊了。父亲拉着他匆匆走过。别看那种地方。和我们无关。但阿图尔却无法忘记。在法国，他目睹了更令人震惊的景象。当他抵达法国土伦港时。他看到了桨帆船。桨帆船是靠划桨前进的船。而划桨的人，却是囚犯。桨帆船奴隶。他们被铁链锁着。必须整天划桨。他们遭受非人的待遇，被鞭打。15岁的少年看到这一幕，僵住了。他们也是人，为什么必须这样活着？那天晚上，他在酒店房间里写下了日记。这实际上是留存下来的记录。这就是人类的生活吗？神真的慈悲吗？如果神慈悲，为何允许这样的痛苦存在？这个疑问终生伴随着他。旅行还在继续。荷兰、比利时、瑞士。无论走到哪里，都差不多。华丽的士绅生活背后，总有痛苦的人们。被关在监狱里的人，被收容在精神病院的人，在街头乞讨的人。叔本华将这一切都记录了下来。旅行回来时，他已完全改变。他看待世界的方式改变了。世界并不美好。走到哪里都只有痛苦。人生本质上就是痛苦。这个确信，成为了他日后哲学的核心。然而，他必须遵守承诺。1804年，叔本华进入汉堡商业学校。他16岁。商业学校对他来说是地狱。每天早起学习账簿。计算数字，学习交易方法，学习写合同。这就是我要做的事吗？我想要探索真理。但他无法逃避。这是他与父亲的约定。夜里，他偷偷读书。点着蜡烛，在被子里读柏拉图。他偷偷藏着康德的书阅读。总有一天，总有一天，我会摆脱这种生活。在那之前，忍耐吧。他将这段时期，一生都视为被压抑自我的痛苦。1804年下半年，奇怪的事情开始发生。父亲的状况急剧恶化。原本就抑郁的海因里希，更加深陷黑暗。抑郁症加重了。被害妄想达到了顶峰。所有人都想骗我。谁都不能信。他完全听不见别人的话。与世界彻底隔绝。只是把自己关在家里。他也不与家人交流。用餐时也沉默不语。只是茫然地坐着。17岁的阿图尔看着这样的父亲，感到害怕。父亲到底怎么了？为什么会变成这样？但他不敢问。因为在这个家里，没有人谈论感情。1805年4月到来了。春天来了，但叔本华家却没有春天。4月20日早晨。海因里希像往常一样早起。一言不发地离开了家。他去了家附近的运河旁的仓库。到了午饭时间，海因里希没有回来。到了晚饭时间，依然没有消息。家人开始感到不安。丈夫去哪儿了？这么晚了还没回来。仆人匆忙跑来。夫人，夫人，出大事了。什么事？主人在运河里。运河边聚集了人们。仆人说，海因里希·叔本华在运河里被发现了。他已经断气了。官方记录是意外死亡。但没有人相信。饱受严重抑郁和被害妄想折磨的人，听力也丧失，与世界隔绝的人。所有人都知道，那是自杀。但没有人说出口。当时的自杀是极大的耻辱。教会也不会为自杀者举行正式的葬礼。所以家人选择了沉默。按意外死亡处理。葬礼安静地举行了。17岁的阿图尔站在父亲的棺木前。他的心情很复杂。有悲伤。有对父亲的愤怒。为什么您要独自承受那份痛苦？为什么不告诉任何人？但同时，也有解脱感。现在我可以不用去商业学校了。我可以摆脱父亲的期望了。而这份解脱感，又带来了罪恶感。我是个坏儿子吗？我是在利用父亲的死吗？这些复杂的情感，终生伴随着他。葬礼结束后，遗产被整理。父亲留下的遗产相当可观。那是他一生辛勤积攒的钱财。叔本华继承了部分遗产。凭着这笔钱，他得以一生无经济之忧。后来，他曾说：如果父亲没有去世，我此刻大概会成为一个不幸的商人。父亲的去世，带给我的是智识上的自由。但同时，他一生都挂着父亲的肖像。我所享有的经济自由，全凭父亲。我感谢父亲。他憎恨过，但又感谢。他曾有冲突，但又感到怜悯。复杂的情感。这件事成为了他哲学的核心。人生随时可能崩塌。幸福是幻觉。成功人士最终也可能不幸福。死亡或许是一种解脱。对世界的怀疑，对人生的质疑。这就是父亲的去世留给他的东西。父亲去世了，但叔本华却无法立刻进入大学。他只读过商业学校，人文教育有所欠缺。要想进入大学，必须先弥补这方面的空白。从1805年到1809年，他自学了四年。他学习了拉丁语。这是古罗马的语言，当时学术的基本语言。他还学习了希腊语。是为了能直接阅读柏拉图吗？他学习了古典文学。荷马、维吉尔、西塞罗。他整天坐在书桌前学习。从早到晚，从不休息。我起步晚了。别人已经在大学学习了，我必须追赶。他感到焦虑。我真的能做到吗？是不是太晚了？但他没有停下。每天坚持学习一点点。1809年，他终于准备好了。21岁的叔本华进入哥廷根大学。以当时的标准来看，这算是晚了。大多数学生在18岁左右就入学了。但他并不在意。虽然晚了，但现在开始总比不开始好。起初，他选择了医学作为专业。为什么是医学？因为这是一门实用的学问。成为医生可以帮助人们。而且经济上也稳定。然而，随着医学学习的深入，他感到一种空虚。这真是我想要学习的吗？治愈身体的疾病固然重要，但我更想回答更根本的问题。人们为何会痛苦？人生的意义是什么？该如何生活？这时，他遇到了一位老师。戈特洛布·恩斯特·舒尔茨，一位哲学教授。舒尔茨看出了叔本华的潜力。你很有哲学天赋，何不选择哲学而非医学呢？你读过柏拉图吗？康德呢？叔本华的眼睛亮了。读过。尤其是康德的《纯粹理性批判》，令他震惊。舒尔茨笑了。那你就该学哲学。你注定要成为一名哲学家。听到这句话的那一刻，叔本华确信了。是的，就是这个。这就是我的道路。他放弃了医学，转而学习哲学。他深入研究柏拉图。反复阅读《理想国》、《斐多篇》、《会饮篇》。他研究康德。《纯粹理性批判》、《实践理性批判》、《判断力批判》。虽然困难，但他没有放弃。一个句子，一个句子地细细品味。图书馆成了他的家。他从早到晚都在那里。埋头于书堆中。我将解释这个世界的痛苦。父亲为何不幸，法国土伦的奴隶为何痛苦，以及我们如何才能摆脱这种痛苦。这是我毕生的课题。父亲去世后，母亲约翰娜开始了新的生活。她搬到了魏玛。歌德居住的城市。那是当时德国文化的中心。约翰娜在那里开设了文学沙龙。沙龙是指知识分子聚集在一起交谈和讨论的聚会。约翰娜的沙龙很快就出名了。歌德经常来访。席勒也来过。当时最顶尖的作家、哲学家、艺术家都聚集在她的沙龙。约翰娜是个社交型人物。她喜欢与人交往。欢声笑语不断。今天的歌剧不是很精彩吗？你读过新出的小说吗？气氛明亮、积极、充满活力。约翰娜也开始写小说。令人惊讶的是，她还颇有成就。她的小说成了畅销书。她成了当时德国相当有名气的作家。丈夫去世了，但她并没有悲伤。反而感受到了自由。现在我可以过自己的人生了。可以做我一直想做的事情了。一个明亮、积极、受人喜爱的女人。这就是约翰娜。成为大学生的叔本华偶尔会去拜访母亲。但母亲的沙龙对他来说是一种折磨。人太多了。太吵了。只有表面的对话。今天天气真好。你去看音乐会了吗？那件礼服真漂亮。叔本华无法忍受这样的对话。这就是对话吗？毫无意义。没有人谈论真理。他站在派对角落，冷漠地观察着人们。用冰冷、犬儒的目光。他们只是在假装快乐。并非真正快乐。表面光鲜，内心空虚。约翰娜对这样的儿子感到困惑。为什么他总是愁眉苦脸的？人们会觉得他奇怪。笑一笑吧，求你了。但叔本华没有笑。他没有理由笑。冲突越来越大。一天，在用餐时间。客人们都走了，只剩下母子二人。阿图尔，笑一笑吧。人们会觉得你奇怪。我为什么要虚伪地笑？快乐就该笑，不是吗？我不快乐。这个世界充满了痛苦，我怎么能笑？约翰娜的声音提高了。阿图尔，你为什么总是这么忧郁？人们在努力让自己快乐。幸福是幻觉，母亲。父亲也成功了，但他不快乐。别再提你父亲的事了。你和你父亲一样。忧郁、消极，让人们感到疲惫。沉默降临。约翰娜深吸一口气。然后说道。这是实际记录的发言。你是个难以忍受的人。叔本华看着母亲。你是因为是家人才忍受。如果是别人，早就远离你了。你让人们感到不舒服。和你在一起很累。叔本华静静地站了起来。我知道了，母亲。那我就不再让您感到不舒服了。什么意思？字面意思。我以后不会再来看您了。从那天起，母子几乎没有再见面。也没有通信。完全断绝了联系。1838年，母亲约翰娜去世了。有人将消息传给了叔本华。母亲去世了。葬礼在后天举行。叔本华回答道。我不去。但她毕竟是母亲。她早已不是我的母亲了。他没有去参加葬礼。从最亲近的人那里听到的这句话：你是个难以忍受的人。这句话终生伴随着他。父亲不理解他，但至少给了他经济上的自由。然而，母亲却拒绝了他。否定了他的存在本身。这是最亲近的人际关系中，彻底的拒绝。这段经历深深影响了他对女性的看法。他日后会说，女人是不可信的。这一切的开端，正是他的母亲。1818年，叔本华30岁了。他花了几年时间写了一本书。书名是《意欲与表象作为世界》。这本书包含了他的一切。从父亲的死中获得的领悟。在法国土伦看到的，人类的痛苦。从康德和柏拉图那里学到的哲学。在印度哲学中发现的智慧。一切都凝聚在这本书里。他每天早起写作。一个句子，一个句子地仔细推敲。这本书将改变世界。它解释了人类痛苦的本质。为何我们痛苦，如何才能摆脱。世界在等待这本书。他如此确信。经过几年的努力，原稿终于完成。他找到了出版社。我想出版这本书。出版社读了原稿。嗯，虽然很难，但我们会出版。合同达成。叔本华很高兴。终于，终于可以将我的思想传达给世界了。1818年12月，书出版了。叔本华每天都去书店。卖了吗？啊，还没有。一周过去了。卖出了几本书。一个月过去了。几乎没卖出去。评论也几乎没有。只有几家报纸做了简短的提及。太难了。不知道在说什么。三个月过去了。大众的反应是完全的漠视。六个月过去了。没有人谈论他的书。一年过去了。依然只有沉默。叔本华无法相信。怎么会这样？世界竟然不读我的书。这是为人类而写的书啊。它告诉我们如何摆脱痛苦。然而，世界却毫无兴趣。当时德国哲学界被黑格尔统治着。黑格尔的哲学是乐观的。历史在发展。理性在胜利。世界在不断进步。人们喜欢这样的信息。然而，叔本华的哲学却恰恰相反。人生本质上是痛苦。欲望永远无法满足。幸福是幻觉。谁想听这样悲观的信息呢？几年过去了。书依然没有卖出去。出版社打来电话。书卖不出去，剩下的库存将作为废纸处理。什么？废纸？就是回收利用。叔本华愤怒了。我倾注了人生的书，竟然要变成废纸。但他也无可奈何。他的书被卖作废纸。被回收了。也许变成了别的书的纸张。叔本华那天晚上写了日记。我赌上了人生。将一切都倾注在这本书里。然而，世界却毫无反应。甚至把它变成了废纸。这就是世界对真理的回答。这次经历彻底改变了他。大众看不懂真理。世界忽视有价值的东西。人们只喜欢舒适的谎言，而拒绝令人不快的真相。这个确信再也无法动摇。倾注一生，世界也毫无反应。这就是1818年留给他的教训。1820年，叔本华获得了在柏林大学讲课的机会。虽然书本上失败了，但仍有希望。可以通过讲课获得认可。可以直接向学生传达我的哲学。当时柏林大学的超级明星是黑格尔。格奥尔格·威廉·弗里德里希·黑格尔。德国最伟大的哲学家。受普鲁士王室资助的哲学家。他的讲座总是爆满。学生们蜂拥而至。连过道都挤满了人。站着听课的学生也不少。叔本华鄙视黑格尔。他读过黑格尔的书，但无法理解。不，准确地说，他理解了，但无法认同。那个家伙是骗子。只是用难懂的词语包装，内容却空洞。绝对精神，辩证法，那有什么意义？无法解释现实的痛苦，只是一味地堆砌抽象的概念。叔本华下定决心。我要和黑格尔正面较量。于是，他做出了一个挑衅的选择。将自己的讲课时间定在与黑格尔完全相同的时间。人们都惊呆了。一个无名讲师，竟然敢和黑格尔在同一时间讲课？疯了吗？但叔本华确信。这是给学生选择的机会。让他们选择真理或谎言。真正热爱哲学 Thus, he chose to confront Hegel directly. He believed that in the face of truth, the masses would choose him. The first day, there were five students. A week later, two students. A month later, zero students. The result was disastrous. Hegel: 200 students vs. Schopenhauer: 0 students. It only took one such incident for a man's pride to be completely shattered. After this day, he never returned to university for the rest of his life. However, this humiliation gave birth to the most cynical yet most honest philosophy in human history. What kind of person was he to suffer such a crushing defeat? And how did this event change his life? Let us begin that story now. On February 22, 1788, in Danzig, a port city in northern Germany, a child was born. His name was Arthur Schopenhauer. He was the son of a merchant family that had been in business for generations. His father, Heinrich Schopenhauer, was a successful merchant. Every time ships docked at the harbor, his warehouse was filled with goods. Silk, spices, tea, porcelain – precious items from all over the world passed through his hands. He was not short of money. His mother, Johanna, was a cultured woman. She loved books and enjoyed life. Like the wealthy bourgeois families in Germany at the time, the Schopenhauer household was opulent. A spacious mansion, servants, a garden, ample food, clothing, and educational opportunities. By all appearances, it was a blessed birth. Young Arthur was a bright child. He read quickly and asked many questions. "Father, why do people have to work? Why are there poor people? Why isn't everyone happy?" His father did not like such questions. "Don't think about such useless things. A merchant just needs to do business well." However, this child would later say: "It is best not to be born." Why would a child raised in such a privileged environment say such a thing? The answer lay with his father. Heinrich Schopenhauer. On the surface, he was a successful man. His business prospered, he had plenty of money, and his social status was high. But he had a dark side. He was not happy. Or rather, he was anxious. He was always worried about something. "What if my business fails? What if people are deceiving me? What if all of this collapses someday?" He was successful, but not at peace. He had money, but not tranquility. And as he grew older, this anxiety turned into an illness. In his later years, Heinrich suffered from severe depression. He began to experience paranoid delusions. "Everyone is trying to deceive me. I can't trust anyone." He suspected everyone, even his family. To make matters worse, his hearing began to deteriorate. At first, he couldn't hear high-pitched sounds well. Then, it worsened, and he could no longer hear people's voices properly. In those days, losing one's hearing meant being cut off from the world. There were no hearing aids. Unable to communicate with people, Heinrich became increasingly isolated. He stopped going to his office. He stopped meeting friends. He just sat alone at home. Young Arthur grew up watching his father. He learned that even successful people could be unhappy, and that having a lot of money did not guarantee peace. This became the first lens through which he viewed the world. "Life is not guaranteed. Happiness is not eternal. Everything can collapse." As Schopenhauer entered his teens, the conflict with his father intensified. His father's expectations were clear: "You must be a merchant. Our family has been merchants for generations." But Arthur was different. He loved books, especially philosophy books. He read Plato's dialogues and was amazed. "This is it! This is what's truly important?" The meaning of life, truth, essence. But his father couldn't understand. "Throw away those useless books. Look at the ledgers. You need to know numbers. What's so important about philosophy?" "Father, I want to go to a humanities school." "Humanities? Not a useless place like that. Learn a trade." "But I like to think. I want to explore truth." "Truth? Making a living is the truth. A merchant's son becomes a merchant." This conversation repeated endlessly. His father couldn't understand his son, and his son resented his father. The conflict deepened. Then, in 1803, when Schopenhauer was 15 years old. One day, his father made a proposal. "Arthur, I have a special offer for you. I'll take you on a tour of Europe." The 15-year-old boy's eyes sparkled. "Really?" "Yes. France, England, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland – I'll show you everywhere." "Wow." "But there's a condition." His father's voice lowered. "When you return, you will enroll in a commercial school, not a humanities school." "It's a deal. If you want the trip, you have to listen to me." This was a cruel choice for a 15-year-old boy. A European tour. At that time, traveling across Europe was an immense privilege. Most people never left their city in their lifetime. But the price was high. He had to give up his dream of becoming a philosopher. He had to become a merchant. Arthur pondered for several days. He couldn't sleep properly at night. "Should I go on the trip? Or should I give it up?" "But if I go on the trip, I can't study philosophy. Still, if I give up the trip, I feel like I'll regret it forever." In the end, he chose the trip. He didn't even see his friends. For a 15-year-old boy, the temptation before him was too great. "Let's go on the trip first. We'll think about the future later." In May 1803, he set off on a European tour with his father. However, this trip was completely different from what he had expected. Schopenhauer saw not only the splendid European civilization. When he arrived in London, England. There were magnificent palaces and mansions, but what caught his eye was something else. It was the slums. People lived packed together in narrow alleys. Children in dirty clothes begged on the streets. Sick people lay on the ground. "Is this the capital of the British Empire?" Schopenhauer was shocked. His father dragged him past quickly. "Don't look at such places. They have nothing to do with us." But Arthur couldn't forget. In France, he witnessed an even more shocking sight. When he arrived at the port of Toulon, France. He saw galleys. Galleys were ships propelled by oars. And the people rowing them were prisoners. Galley slaves. They were bound by chains. They had to row all day. They were treated worse than animals, whipped. The 15-year-old boy froze at the sight. "They are people too, why must they live like this?" That night, in his hotel room, he wrote in his diary. This is actually recorded. "Is this human life? Is God truly merciful? If God is merciful, why does He allow such suffering?" This question would follow him for the rest of his life. The journey continued. The Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland. Everywhere he went, it was similar. Behind the opulent lives of the upper class, there were always suffering people. People imprisoned, people confined in mental hospitals, people begging on the streets. Schopenhauer recorded it all. When he returned from his trip, he was completely changed. His view of the world had changed. "The world is not beautiful. Everywhere there is only suffering. Life is inherently suffering." This conviction would later become the core of his philosophy. But he had to keep his promise. In 1804, Schopenhauer enrolled in the Hamburg Commercial School. He was 16 years old. Commercial school was hell for him. Every morning, he had to wake up early and learn ledgers. Calculate numbers, learn trading methods, learn how to write contracts. "Is this what I'm supposed to do? I want to explore truth." But he couldn't escape. It was a promise to his father. At night, he secretly read books. He lit a candle and read Plato under the covers. He hid Kant's books and read them. "Someday, someday, I will escape this life. I'll endure until then." He remembered this period as a lifelong suffering of suppressed self. From late 1804, strange things began to happen. His father's condition worsened rapidly. Heinrich, who was already depressed, plunged deeper into darkness. His depression worsened. His paranoia reached its peak. "Everyone is trying to deceive me. I can't trust anyone." He couldn't hear people's words at all. He was completely cut off from the world. He just stayed locked up at home. He didn't even talk to his family. He was silent even during meals. He just sat there blankly. 17-year-old Arthur was scared watching his father. "What is happening to my father? Why has he changed so much?" But he couldn't ask. Because no one in the family talked about emotions. April 1805 arrived. It was spring, but spring did not come to the Schopenhauer household. It was the morning of April 20th. Heinrich woke up early as usual. He left the house without a word. He went to the warehouse by the canal near his home. It was lunchtime. Heinrich did not return. It was evening. Still no news. The family began to worry. "Where could my husband have gone? He's never been out this late." A servant rushed in. "Madam, madam, something terrible has happened." "What is it?" "Your husband was found in the canal." People gathered by the canal. Heinrich Schopenhauer was found in the canal. He was already dead. The official record was an accidental death. But no one believed it. A person suffering from severe depression and paranoia, who had lost his hearing and was cut off from the world. Everyone knew it was suicide. But no one spoke the word. Suicide was a great shame at the time. Even the church did not properly conduct funerals for suicides. So the family remained silent. It was treated as an accidental death. The funeral was held quietly. 17-year-old Arthur stood before his father's coffin. His heart was complex. There was sadness. There was anger at his father. "Why did you bear that pain alone? Why didn't you tell anyone?" But at the same time, there was a sense of liberation. "Now I can quit commercial school. I can be free from my father's expectations." And this sense of liberation brought guilt. "Am I a bad son? Am I using my father's death?" These complex emotions would follow him for the rest of his life. After the funeral, the inheritance was settled. The inheritance his father left was substantial. It was the money he had diligently saved throughout his life. Schopenhauer received a portion of that inheritance. And with this money, he was able to live without financial worries for the rest of his life. Later, he would say: "If my father had not died, I would probably have become an unhappy merchant by now. My father's death gave me intellectual freedom." But at the same time, he kept his father's portrait on display for the rest of his life. "The financial freedom I enjoy is thanks to my father. I am grateful to my father." He hated him, yet he was grateful. He had conflicts, yet he felt pity. It was a complex emotion. This event became the core of his philosophy. "Life can collapse at any moment. Happiness is an illusion. Even successful people can ultimately be unhappy. Death may be a liberation." Distrust of the world, skepticism about life. This is what his father's death left him with. Although his father died, Schopenhauer could not immediately go to university. He had only attended commercial school, so his humanities education was lacking. To enter university, he first had to fill that gap. From 1805 to 1809, he studied independently for four years. He learned Latin. It was the language of ancient Rome and the basic language of scholarship at the time. He also learned Greek. Did he want to read Plato in the original? He studied classical literature. Homer, Virgil, Cicero. He spent all day sitting at his desk studying. From morning to night, without rest. "I started late. Others are already studying at university, and I have to catch up." He was anxious. "Can I really do it? Is it too late?" But he didn't stop. He studied a little bit every day, consistently. In 1809, he was finally ready. 21-year-old Schopenhauer enrolled in the University of Göttingen. By the standards of the time, it was a somewhat late age. Most students entered around the age of 18. But he didn't care. "It's late, but it's better to start now than never." Initially, he chose medicine as his major. Why medicine? Because it was a practical field. "If I become a doctor, I can help people. And it's financially stable." But the more he studied medicine, the more he felt a void. "Is this really the study I want to do? Healing the body is important, but I want to answer more fundamental questions. Why do people suffer? What is the meaning of life? How should we live?" Then, he met a mentor. Gottlob Ernst Schulze, a philosophy professor. Schulze recognized Schopenhauer's potential. "You have a talent for philosophy. How about studying philosophy instead of medicine?" "Have you read Plato?" "Kant?" Schopenhauer's eyes lit up. "Yes, I have. Especially Kant's 'Critique of Pure Reason' was shocking." Schulze smiled. "Then you should study philosophy. You are destined to be a philosopher." The moment he heard that, Schopenhauer was convinced. "Yes, this is it. This is my path." He abandoned medicine and switched to philosophy. He delved deeply into Plato. He reread "The Republic," "Phaedo," and "The Symposium" repeatedly. He studied Kant. "Critique of Pure Reason," "Critique of Practical Reason," "Critique of Judgment." It was difficult, but he didn't give up. He savored every sentence, every phrase. The library became his home. He went early in the morning and stayed late at night. He lived buried in piles of books. "I will explain the suffering of this world. Why my father was unhappy, why the slaves in Toulon suffered, and how we can escape this suffering. This is my lifelong task." After his father's death, his mother Johanna began a new life. She moved to Weimar. The city where Goethe lived. It was the center of German culture at the time. Johanna opened a literary salon there. A salon is a gathering where intellectuals meet to converse and debate. Johanna's salon soon became famous. Goethe visited frequently. Schiller also came. The greatest writers, philosophers, and artists of the time gathered at her salon. Johanna was a sociable person. She enjoyed interacting with people. Laughter was constant. "Wasn't today's opera magnificent? Have you read the new novel?" The atmosphere was bright, positive, and lively. Johanna also began to write novels. And surprisingly, she achieved considerable success. Her novels became bestsellers. She became a well-known writer in Germany at the time. Her husband had died, but she did not grieve. Instead, she felt liberated. "Now I can live my own life. I can do the things I've always wanted to do." A bright, positive, and beloved woman. That was Johanna. As a university student, Schopenhauer occasionally visited his mother. But his mother's salon was torture for him. Too many people. Too noisy. Only superficial conversations. "The weather is so nice today, isn't it? Did you go to the concert? That dress is so pretty." Schopenhauer couldn't stand such conversations. "Is this conversation? It's meaningless. No one talks about truth." He stood in a corner of the party and observed people. With cold, cynical eyes. "They are just pretending to be happy. They are not truly happy. Only the surface is splendid. The inner self is empty." Johanna was perplexed by her son. "Why does he always have such a dark expression? People find him strange. Please, smile a little." But Schopenhauer didn't smile. He had no reason to smile. The conflict grew. One day, during a meal. After the guests had left, only mother and son remained. "Arthur, please smile a little. People find you strange." "Why should I smile falsely?" "False? Isn't it natural to smile when you're happy?" "I am not happy. This world is full of suffering, how can I smile?" Johanna's voice rose. "Arthur, why are you always so melancholic? People are trying to be happy." "Happiness is an illusion, Mother." "Your father was successful, but he was unhappy." "Stop talking about your father. You are just like your father. Melancholy, negative, and you make people tired." Silence fell. Johanna took a deep breath. And said. This is an actual recorded statement. "You are a difficult person to be around." Schopenhauer looked at his mother. "You tolerate me because I am your son. If I were anyone else, you would have distanced yourself long ago." "You make people uncomfortable. Being with you is tiring." Schopenhauer quietly stood up. "I understand, Mother. Then I will no longer make you uncomfortable." "What do you mean?" "Literally. I will not visit you anymore." From that day on, they rarely met. They didn't even exchange letters. It was complete estrangement. In 1838, his mother Johanna died. Someone informed Schopenhauer of the news. "Your mother has passed away. The funeral is the day after tomorrow." Schopenhauer replied, "I will not go. But she was your mother." "That person was no longer my mother long ago." He did not attend the funeral. The words he heard from the closest person: "You are a difficult person to be around." These words would follow him for the rest of his life. His father did not understand him, but at least gave him financial freedom. However, his mother rejected him. She denied his very existence. It was a complete rejection in the closest human relationship. This experience profoundly influenced his view of women. He would later say that women are untrustworthy. The beginning of it all was his mother. In 1818, Schopenhauer turned 30. He had been writing a book for the past few years. The title was "The World as Will and Representation." This book contained everything of him. The realization from his father's death. The human suffering he saw in Toulon, France. The philosophy he learned from Kant and Plato. The wisdom he discovered in Indian philosophy. Everything was condensed into this one book. He woke up early every morning and wrote. "This book will change the world. It explains the essence of human suffering. Why we suffer and how we can escape it. The world is waiting for this book." He was so confident. After years of work, the manuscript was finally completed. He went to a publisher. "I want to publish this book." The publisher read the manuscript. "Hmm, it's difficult, but we'll publish it." The contract was made. Schopenhauer was overjoyed. "Finally, finally, I can share my thoughts with the world." In December 1818, the book was published. Schopenhauer visited the bookstore every day. "Has it sold yet?" "Ah, not yet." A week passed. "A few copies sold." A month passed. "Almost nothing sold." There were almost no reviews. Only a few newspapers made brief mentions. "Too difficult. I don't understand what it means." Three months passed. The public's reaction was complete indifference. Six months passed. No one talked about his book. A year passed. Still only silence. Schopenhauer couldn't believe it. "How can this be? The world isn't reading my book. This is a book for humanity. It tells us how to escape suffering." But the world was not interested. At that time, the German philosophical world was dominated by Hegel. Hegel's philosophy was optimistic. "History progresses. Reason triumphs. The world is getting better and better." People liked this message. However, Schopenhauer's philosophy was the opposite. "Life is inherently suffering. Desire can never be satisfied. Happiness is an illusion." Who would want to hear such a gloomy message? Years passed. The book still didn't sell. The publisher contacted him. "The book isn't selling, so we'll dispose of the remaining stock as waste paper." "What? Waste paper?" "Yes, recycling." Schopenhauer was furious. "My life's work, turned into waste paper!" But he couldn't help it. His books were sold as waste paper. They were recycled. Perhaps they became paper for other books. Schopenhauer wrote in his diary that night. "I staked my life. I poured everything into this book. But the world gave no reaction. It even turned it into waste paper. This is the world's answer to truth." This experience changed him completely. "The masses do not recognize truth. The world ignores what is valuable. People only like comfortable lies and reject uncomfortable truths." This conviction was now unshakable. "Even if I stake my life, the world will not react. This is the lesson 1818 left him with. In 1820, Schopenhauer was given an opportunity to lecture at the University of Berlin. Although he failed with his book, he still had hope. "I can gain recognition through lectures. I can convey my philosophy directly to students." At that time, the biggest star at the University of Berlin was Hegel. Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. Germany's greatest philosopher. A philosopher sponsored by the Prussian royal family. His lectures were always full. Students flocked to him. Even the aisles were overflowing. Students stood to listen. Schopenhauer despised Hegel. He had read Hegel's books but couldn't understand them. Or rather, he understood them but couldn't agree. "That author is a fraud. He just cloaked it in difficult words, but the content is empty. Absolute spirit, dialectic – what's the point? He can't explain the suffering of reality, only spews abstract concepts." Schopenhauer decided. "I will confront Hegel head-on." So, he made a provocative choice. He scheduled his lecture at the exact same time as Hegel's. People were surprised. "An unknown lecturer dares to lecture at the same time as Hegel? Is he crazy?" But Schopenhauer was confident. "I'm giving students a choice. To choose between truth and falsehood." "Truly philosophy-loving students will choose my lecture." The first day of lectures arrived. Schopenhauer arrived at the lecture hall early. He had prepared thoroughly. He organized his notes, checked the blackboard, and prepared water. Ten minutes before the lecture began, one student entered. Five minutes before, two more students entered. At the start time of the lecture. Five students were seated. Schopenhauer thought, "There will be students coming late." "Let's wait a little." Five minutes passed. No one else came. Ten minutes passed. Still only five students. Schopenhauer began his lecture. But his heart was uneasy. He could hear sounds from across the hall. Murmuring, students' laughter. It was Hegel's lecture hall. Filled with over 200 students. The second lecture of the week. Three students came. After that, an empty lecture hall. Only empty chairs greeted him. Schopenhauer stood alone in the empty lecture hall. From the adjacent lecture hall, Hegel's voice could be heard. And the students' laughter, applause. He closed the lecture hall door. He walked out into the hallway. He passed by Hegel's lecture hall. Through the crack in the door, he could see the crowded lecture hall. Schopenhauer clenched his fists. "The world doesn't want truth. The masses are foolish. They are swayed by grand words and don't see the essence. They cheer for Hegel's empty wordplay while ignoring true wisdom." From that day on, Schopenhauer never stood on a university platform again. He gave up lecturing. It was the complete collapse of his desire for recognition. But at the same time, it was the birth of a new conviction. "The choice of the masses is irrelevant to truth. Just because many people like something doesn't make it right. Truth is recognized only by a few. I will not seek recognition from the masses. I will simply record the truth. Someday, someday, someone will recognize it." After the failure of his university lectures, Schopenhauer lived in a boarding house in Berlin. He became increasingly isolated. He didn't meet people. He wrote alone, took walks alone, and ate alone. His personality also became more difficult. He became irritated by small noises. He couldn't tolerate people's loud conversations. One day. The maids were talking in the hallway. He could hear them laughing and chatting. Schopenhauer was writing in his room. The noise made it impossible to concentrate. He burst open the door. "Be quiet! Can't you be quiet?" The maids looked at him in surprise. "We are working too." "Do you need to laugh and chat while working? Work quietly." "Why should we be mindful of you, sir?" The argument escalated. Schopenhauer's anger flared up. And in a moment, he pushed a maid. The maid lost her balance and fell. She tumbled down the stairs. "Ah!" The maid injured her arm. People gathered around. "What happened?" "That person pushed the maid." Schopenhauer was flustered. "I just pushed her. I didn't intend to hurt her." But it was too late. The maid sued Schopenhauer. The trial began. "The defendant assaulted the plaintiff. The plaintiff suffered serious injuries to her arm. It is difficult to carry out daily life." Schopenhauer argued. "I merely pushed her. I didn't intend to injure her. I just asked her to be quiet." But the court did not side with Schopenhauer. "The defendant committed violence. Pay monthly alimony until the plaintiff recovers." The verdict was delivered. Schopenhauer lost the case. But there was a problem. The maid did not recover. She continued to claim her arm hurt. She submitted medical certificates. Years passed, but she did not recover. Ten years passed, but she did not recover. Eventually, Schopenhauer had to pay alimony for the rest of his life. Until the day he died. After this incident, Schopenhauer wrote in his diary. "Women are untrustworthy. They will exploit men if given the chance. This maid will exploit me for the rest of my life." When the maid died, Schopenhauer wrote in his ledger: "Old woman died. Burden removed." He was ruthless. This incident deepened his distrust of humanity. He was rejected by his mother, ignored by the masses, and now defeated in court. The severance of emotional relationships accelerated. In 1833, Schopenhauer moved to Frankfurt. He was 45 years old. And he spent the rest of his life there. Frankfurt was a quiet city. Not as noisy as Berlin. He rented a quiet apartment by the Main River. He began a regular routine there. He woke up at 7 AM every morning. Exactly 7 AM. Without fail, he would get up and wash his body with cold water. Cold water even in winter. "It's to wake up the body." Breakfast was simple. Bread and coffee. From 8 AM to 12 PM, he wrote. Without fail. Whether he felt inspired or not, he sat at his desk. "Consistency is important. Don't wait for inspiration." At noon, he stopped writing. And went out for lunch. It was always the same restaurant. The "Englischer Hof." He always sat at the same table. By the window. He always ordered the same menu. People knew him. "There goes that philosopher." After lunch, he took a walk. Every afternoon at 2 PM. He walked the same path. Along the banks of the Main River. His only companion was his dog. A poodle. Its name was Atman, a word meaning "soul" in Indian philosophy. When his dog died, he got another poodle. And named it Atman as well. He did this his entire life. The citizens of Frankfurt recognized him. "There goes that philosopher. The man walking his dog." But no one spoke to him. Because Schopenhauer kept his distance from people. He became annoyed if anyone approached him. "I want to be alone." After his walk, he returned home. Around 4 PM. And then he would write or read. He ate dinner alone. Simply. He went to bed at 10 PM. Exactly 10 PM. This routine repeated every day. Without fail, for years, for decades. He minimized contact with people. He never married. Because he didn't trust women. He had no close friends. Because he didn't trust people. During this period, he continued to write. "Parerga and Paralipomena," "The World as Will and Representation," 2nd edition, various essays. But he had no expectations. "The world won't read it anyway. But it doesn't matter. I'm just recording the truth. For posterity." During this period, his core philosophy was completed. "Life is inherently suffering. Desire can never be satisfied. If you get one thing, you want another. There is no satisfaction. Happiness is an illusion. Don't expect anything. Then there will be no disappointment. Desire nothing. Then peace will come." In solitude, he strangely found peace. It was ironic. Peace came when he gave up everything. He gave up recognition. He gave up love. He gave up fame. And only then did he become at ease. "I will go my own way. Regardless of what the world says, whether I am recognized or not." The philosophy of a life without expectation was completed during this period. In the 1850s, strange things began to happen. Schopenhauer was already in his 60s. He had been ignored for over 30 years. But suddenly, the younger generation began to rediscover him. At first, it was a few young philosophers. They discovered Schopenhauer's old books. They read them in second-hand bookstores and libraries and were shocked. "This, this is real philosophy. Not Hegel's empty rhetoric, but philosophy about real life." Letters began to arrive. "I was shocked after reading your book. My life has changed. My view of the world has completely transformed." At first, Schopenhauer didn't believe it. "Is someone else mocking me?" But the letters kept coming. More and more. Not just from Germany, but from other countries too. England, France, Russia. His books began to be republished. "The World as Will and Representation," 2nd edition, came out. "Parerga and Paralipomena" was also published. This time, they sold. They became bestsellers. People began to seek him out. Young philosophers, writers, artists. "We want to meet you, sir." Schopenhauer was over 70 years old. After a lifetime of being ignored, he was finally beginning to be recognized. But his reaction was calm. "So, you recognize me now. It's 30 years too late." Fame arrived. Newspapers wrote articles about him. Magazines requested interviews. But Schopenhauer did not change. He still lived alone. He still woke up at the same time and walked the same path. He still kept his distance from people. "Fame means nothing to me. I have already done what I needed to do. It doesn't matter if the world recognizes it or not." Among the young philosophers was Friedrich Nietzsche. Nietzsche read Schopenhauer's books and was deeply influenced. Later, Nietzsche would call Schopenhauer his educator. Richard Wagner was also a fan of Schopenhauer. He composed operas inspired by Schopenhauer's philosophy. Leo Tolstoy also read Schopenhauer. Sigmund Freud was also influenced by him. The philosophy that had been ignored for a lifetime was finally beginning to shine. It was the completion of irony. Schopenhauer said: "I told you from the beginning. Truth is recognized only with time. The masses are swayed by the present. But truth ultimately triumphs." In September 1860, Schopenhauer was 72 years old. His health was declining. But he still maintained his regular routine. He woke up at 7 AM every morning, wrote, and took a walk. It was the morning of September 21st. He woke up as usual. He had breakfast. And sat on the living room sofa. He intended to read the newspaper. Time passed. A maid entered the room. "Sir, it's time for lunch." There was no answer. "Sir." The maid approached. Schopenhauer was sitting on the sofa. Holding the newspaper. But he did not move. He had already passed away. There were no signs of pain. He looked peaceful, as if he were asleep. Arthur Schopenhauer, 72 years old. Born in solitude, died in solitude. The funeral was held quietly. Only a few people attended. There was no family. His mother was already dead, and he had never married. He had no siblings. A few young philosophers came. To pay their respects. His grave is in the Frankfurt cemetery. A quiet place. Not ornate, but simple. Only his name is engraved on the tombstone. Arthur Schopenhauer. But the philosophy he left behind changed the world. Nietzsche was influenced by him and wrote "Thus Spoke Zarathustra." Freud developed his theory of the unconscious. Tolstoy wrote "War and Peace" under his influence. Wagner expressed his philosophy through music. Einstein also read Schopenhauer. Countless thinkers of the 20th century owed him a debt. A man who was never recognized in his lifetime. But a man who changed the world after his death. "But I waited. And eventually, the world recognized me." His later years were relatively peaceful. He was financially stable and gained fame. But he remained alone until the end. It was a death in solitude. But perhaps, that was the life he wanted. "I went my own way. Regardless of what the world said, whether I was recognized or not, I pursued truth. And that was enough." Schopenhauer said this his entire life. "Life is painful. But knowing that itself is a comfort. Life is like a pendulum. It just swings between suffering and boredom." He did not deny suffering. Instead, he faced it honestly. And that honesty eventually comforted countless people. This was the life of Arthur Schopenhauer.