PHL Ethics: Studies in Pessimism: Schopenhauer's Philosophy

This assignment explores Arthur Schopenhauer's philosophical perspectives, primarily focusing on his 'Studies in Pessimism.' It examines his views on the intrinsic valuelessness of existence, the role of suffering and happiness, and the vanity of life. The assignment delves into Schopenhauer's analysis of suicide, his critique of religion, and his views on the human condition. It contrasts his philosophy with concepts like 'carpe diem' and explores ethical attitudes, including the importance of humility and compassion. Additionally, the assignment touches on related topics like transgenic organisms (Golden Rice) and gene therapy, providing a comprehensive overview of Schopenhauer's ideas and their implications.

Running head: PHL ETHICS; STUDIES IN PESSIMISM
PHL Ethics; Studies in Pessimism
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1. Restate in positive terms the opening idea of the essay, i.e., to what “immediate and
direct purpose” is our existence most suited?
Schopenhauer claims that existence is intrinsically valueless since life comprise of dissatisfaction
and boredom. As human beings, we desire to live for a purpose, a will to live. That cannot be
resisted in anyway. In affirmative and constructive terms, we have an ultimate value, thus our
existence is for a purpose even though we are in the focal point of our own globe of physical
reality, everything life should not lose value.’
1. Schopenhauer observes that everyone, in times of misfortune, can look around and
find others in even greater misfortune; what point does Schopenhauer make from
the fact that everyone can do this?
Schopenhauer was depicting on his observation of Buddhism and integrating it with Western
viewpoint. In Buddhism the whole thing is dukkha, affliction is the lot of all personalities who
become connected to things. Schopenhauer was a pessimist with reference to life, look around
and you will realize that each person is unhappy, life is affliction, it is a lose-lose match.
2. Summarize Schopenhauer’s view on the relation between suffering and happiness,
and use an example to illustrate his characterization of the relation in terms of
“positive” and “negative.”
Generally, Arthur Schopenhauer was not a happy fellow. He points out and says that we cannot
be happy although we can observe rules to keep away from pain. In his rules, he suggests that
human being beings should not focus on or target for a happiness that cannot be achieved;
however, we ought to manage life and avoid unnecessary, both personal suffering and to others
as well. In addition, he also points out in his rules that we should avoid being jealous by giving

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comparison of ourselves to others; things that sound like positive psychology. Arthur
Schopenhauer uses the pendulum metaphor to explain that happiness is a negative fairly than
positive observable fact. For instance, he suggests and claims that it is not a guarantee that
somebody has to get what he or she wants in life; however, if the person gets, it is not a warrant
for prolonged satisfaction, but may just results to boredom, which is a type of discontent and
unhappiness.
3. Schopenhauer counsels that when you order your expectations of life according to
the nature of things, i.e., according to the conviction that the world really ought not
(a)_____, then you will no longer regard the calamities, sufferings, torments, and
miseries of life as (b)_____ but (c)_____.
a) and not to be expected
b) as something irregular
c) but will find them entirely in order, well knowing that each of us is here being punished
for his existence and each in his own particular way.
4. What ethical attitudes or virtues are implicated by Schopenhauer’s conclusion that
the most appropriate form of address between man and man is not “monsi******,
sir” but “fellow sufferer, compagnon de misères”?
Arthur states that human beings ought to address one another as a colleague sufferer.
Consequently, everybody of human race is exposed to suffering in their entire life. Therefore,
should handle one another with humility and kindness since they are all facing a similar situation
that entails struggle in life (Schopenhauer, 2010). In this case, human beings ought to hold close
the virtue of humbleness and meekness and handle or deal with one another as equal partners. In

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life, people share comparable difficulties and for that reason, they should coexist in lenience,
charity, and endurance.
Assignment #11: Schopenhauer, On the Vanity of Existence
1. What, above all, reveals the vanity of existence?
Vanity gets expression in the entire manner in which things exist. It is revealed in the full form
of existence presumes and in the infiniteness of moment and space. Therefore, time and space
are the elements that reveal the vanity of existence since time is critical feature that determines
the moment where certain things can lose or gain their values.
2. What is Schopenhauer’s two–fold reply to carpe diem, i.e., to the idea that one
should “seize the day,” live for the present?
Arthur responds that we are for a short period and life has lost its meaning and value. He says
that human beings will become insignificant and obsolete due to every time that passes in life
(Schopenhauer, 2010, p. 95). He thinks that human cannot hold but instead, his main emphasis is
the essence of time and space.
3. What are Schopenhauer’s two replies to the goal of happiness “in such a world” as
this?
a) Arthur Schponhauer says that suffering is a fraction of men. Similarly, he also says that it
is wrong to presume that human beings deserve happiness
b) Moreover, he adds that evils that come about to man are in foreseeable and as a result an
individual should make good use of the little things in life.

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4. Why must human life be “some kind of mistake”?
Arthur says that human life must have some kind of mistake. The reason behind this as explained
from the reading is that an has a complex or a compound of requirements that are difficult to
satisfy. He goes ahead to say that even if these requirements are satisfied, all the man gains is a
condition of pain free, where the man is abandoned to boredom.
5. Schopenhauer claims that the human organism is the most perfect manifestation of
ultimate reality, i.e., of the underlying and all–pervading will–to–live. Yet his
description of the journey of human life is that it begins in (a): _____ and ends in
(b):_____.
a) In conception
b) When an individual’s will to live is denied.
Assignment #12: Schopenhauer, On Suicide; Mader, Biotechnology;
1. As a philosopher pondering the ethics of suicide, Schopenhauer is looking for
reasons for or against the putative moral wrongness of suicide. What is
Schopenhauer’s overall conclusion from his look at religions?
Arthur concludes that religion seems to be not so much satisfactory as an abuse of the needs of
human beings. He says that religion has disadvantages if fighting immorality and it is full of
atrocities. However, he continues to say that religion is associated with who loves his throne as
his family who will automatically come on top and that reflects the true nature of religion
(Şentürk, 2016).

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2. What is “the only cogent” moral argument against suicide, and what is
Schopenhaur’s response to it? (Include a brief explanation of his response once you
have stated it).
Suicide prevents an individual from accomplishing topmost moral target. According to
Schopenhauer’s response, he says that suicide is a method of getting freedom and also daunting
an individual’s will. In other words, it is also an act of denying one’s self the happiness and not
afflictions connected by the will to live.
3. Describe one transgenic organism and a benefit it brings
Transgenic organism is made by the introduction of recombinant DNA into the genome of the
organism. They are commonly known as GMO. An example of such is Golden rice which
generates the precursor to vitamin A; beta-carotene.
4. Describe one example of bone marrow stem cells at work in gene therapy
The most ideal cell for this purpose is the hematopoietic stem cell since they are not difficult to
remove from the bone marrow. Similarly, they are simple to identify and separate from other
cells more enthusiastically coaxed to make a distinction in laboratory scenery before insertion
into the patient.
5. What makes the happy prince the happy prince? (In your answer contrast what
made the prince “happy” when he was alive with what makes the prince happy as a
statue).
The treasure and satisfaction that the prince enjoys makes him a happy prince. He got enough
in life for himself and did not experience any difficulty when growing up as compared to

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other people. Even after death, his statue was wrapped and covered by gold. However, at the
sight of human sufferings, the prince is unhappy as seen from his plea to the sparrow to
distribute the gold from his metallic body to the less fortunate.

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List of References
Schopenhauer, A. (2010). The essays of Arthur Schopenhauer: Studies in pessimism. Book
Jungle.
Şentürk Kara, E. (2016). Newspaper And Journalism From Viewpoint Of Arthur Schopenhauer.
Electronic Journal Of Social Sciences, 15(57), 352-360. doi:10.17755/esosder.90344