John Vespasian explains that the art of getting things done effectively and inexpensively underlies the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860). His theory of the will (“life force”) warns us against the lethal consequences of giving way to our instincts without looking at the cost and at the long-term consequences. How do you protect yourself against the negative influence of the will? Schopenhauer advised parsimony, self-reliance and self-awareness. Those habits can help us counteract the will and make better decisions. Schopenhauer never came with precise prescriptions in his quest for happiness. The book “On the fourfold root of the principle of sufficient reason,” written by Schopenhauer in 1814, attributes numerous detrimental human actions to biological forces. Ten years later, in “The world as will and representation,” Schopenhauer took this idea further. For Schopenhauer, rational thinking and rational behaviour are the best methods for minimising the influence of the will. I find it useful to break down his recommendation into detailed prescriptions, such as Franklin’s twelve virtues. Nonetheless, one shouldn’t confuse the goal with the path to achieve it. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/effectiveness-in-schopenhauers-philosophy-of-life/

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