Schopenhauer and the problem of evil

26/02/2025 5 min Episodio 25

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Episode Synopsis

The problem of evil was addressed by Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) by referring to the theory of the will (“life force”), which constitutes the pillar of his philosophy. Schopenhauer defined the will as the force driving living creatures to secure their survival and reproduction, and seek pleasure. John Vespasian explains that, according to Schopenhauer, the will creates endless human desires. As soon as one desire is fulfilled, another one arises. It is simply impossible to satisfy them all. As a result, frustration and suffering ensue. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/schopenhauer-and-the-problem-of-evil/