Schopenhauer’s views on the nature of evil

26/02/2025 6 min Episodio 24

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Episode Synopsis

The philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) about the nature of evil stands in sharp contrast to other thinkers. For Schopenhauer, evil is a natural phenomenon. It’s the inevitable outcome of the will (“life force”) when left to operate freely. John Vespasian explains that Schopenhauer attributes evil to the life force that prompts all living creatures to secure their survival and reproduction, seek pleasure and maximise short-term gains. This life force doesn’t care about risks, costs, and consequences. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/schopenhauers-views-on-the-nature-of-evil/