In the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860), we find a unique combination of realism and empathy. His books show that Schopenhauer was fully conscious of the advantages of industrial societies. They offer individuals far more chances than agrarian, immobile, medieval structures. At the same time, Schopenhauer was aware that perfection cannot be expected from any justice system. Judges and juries make mistakes, and corruption and incompetence play a role in some cases. Even with hard work and the best intentions, you may prove extraordinarily unlucky, suffer a random accident, and lose your savings and your health. Indeed, justice isn’t guaranteed but we should remain grateful for the opportunities offered by modern society. In his first book “Over the fourfold root of the principle of sufficient reason” (1814), Schopenhauer applies the principle of cause and effect to justify the world as it is. Normally, cause and effect should lead to justice, enabling individuals to receive what they have earned with their efforts, but from time to time, random factors will disrupt causality. In those cases, people can rightly feel disadvantaged, but it’s a fact that luck plays a role in life. Schopenhauer recognised it as a fact that some people will inherit a better disposition and a better set of circumstances. That’s life. In his second book, “The world as will and representation” (1818), Schopenhauer delved into the influence of the will on world affairs. The will (which I translate as “life force”) can be irrational and cruel. It will sometimes thwart good projects and reasonable plans for no good reason. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/schopenhauer-and-the-idea-of-justice/

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