I've included the above photo of a wise man from Asia for a very specific reason: to underscore the fact that the wisdom of life transcends culture. Certainly, as per the book cover, one can clearly see Arthur Schopenhauer is from the world of early 19th century European civilization. But what the German philosopher has to say on the topic of wisdom is as relevant today for women and men living anywhere on the globe as it was when he wrote his book back in the 1850s in Frankfurt, Germany.
I have already posted a review on various sections of this book but since I’ve given the topics covered a bit more thought, I would like to share more recent reflections. I'll do so by linking my comments with specific key author quotes.
"In elaborating the scheme of a happy existence, I have had to make a complete surrender of the higher metaphysical and ethical standpoint to which my own theories lead." ---------- Nearly all readers familiar with Schopenhauer's philosophy think in terms of his major work, The World as Will and Representation, which contains a very pessimistic stance. With The Wisdom of Life, Sir Arthur reverses his previous judgement and disposition to embrace and encourage us to live a life filled with great joy and happiness. As to how exactly such a blessed mode of being is to be achieved is the subject of this book.
“Compared with genuine personal advantages_, such as a great mind or a great heart, all the privileges of rank or birth, even of royal birth, are but as kings on the stage, to kings in real life.” ---------- The German philosopher elaborates on precisely why three qualities are to be treasured above all else: physical health, a rich mind and a positive, cheerful disposition. He scoffs at individuals who are cynical about experiencing happiness that good fortune bestows on them in the present moment, likening such negativity to pouring excellent wine into a sack full of bile. On this point I entirely agree: I’ve had my bellyful being around people who are black-bile stinkers and complainers. Especially in more recent years, I attempt to see the beauty in each moment – and one way to keep my vision clear is to do my best in avoiding stinkers and all the many smellfungus.
"For beyond the satisfaction of some real and natural necessities, all that the possession of wealth can achieve has a very small influence upon our happiness . . . and still men are a thousand times more intent on becoming rich than on acquiring culture, though it is quite certain that what a man is contributes much more to his happiness than what he has.” ---------- From one angle, I couldn’t agree more – people who ignore developing their internal capacities and resources, enriching and broadening activities such as reading and contemplation, learning and education, in order to run after material possessions are setting themselves up for frustration and boredom since new possession provide a quick hit of pleasure but the buzz quickly wears off. However, as Schopenhauer elaborates elsewhere, for a man (sorry, his language is sexist) of rich mind, possessing wealth is a great gift since it serves as a liberation from the world of toil and having to work in order to “make a living.”
“How much our happiness depends upon our spirits, and these again upon our state of health.” ----------- Sorry to say one of the follies of youth is to throw one’s body around as if it was worth no more than an old, dirty dishrag. I’m thinking here of the thousands of young people who play football or other contact sports. Back when I was a kid I even knew a guy who would play “chicken” with cars riding along the highway by jumping in from of a car forcing the driver to hit the brakes. Along someone similar lines, we can think of the foolishness of spending day after day destroying one’s health by things like booze, smoking and bad food.
It is a great piece of folly to sacrifice the inner for the outer man, to give the whole or the greater part of one's quiet, leisure and independence for splendor, rank, pomp, titles and honor. ---------- I agree – up to a point. But there is another angle at work here. For as the great Jacob Bronowski said in his Ascent of Man, “The most powerful drive in the ascent of man is his pleasure in his own skill. He loves to do what he does well and, having done it well, he loves to do it better.” Case in point: I know five men, like myself, hovering around age 70 – an accountant, a framer of art and three specialists within the world of medicine. All five want to keep working as long as they can – the big reason relates to Jacob Bronowski’s observation about taking great pleasure in performing work with great skill. Schopenhauer doesn’t have a high regard for the hurly-burly of life and such “outer” activities. Although I myself couldn’t wait to retire so I could devote my time and energy to things like reading and writing, I can now appreciate how other women and men want to continue working - and for good reason. In other words, for many individuals, Bronowski is right and Schopenhauer is wrong.
“But to be in possession of undisturbed leisure, is far from being the common lot; nay, it is something alien to human nature, for the ordinary man's destiny is to spend life in procuring what is necessary for the subsistence of himself and his family; he is a son of struggle and need, not a free intelligence.” ---------- Thus the happy ideal for Schopenhauer: a combination of the above mentioned physical health, rich mind and cheerful disposition coupled with wealth enough to provide for undisturbed leisure.
“The peculiar characteristic of the philistine is a dull, dry kind of gravity, akin to that of animals. Nothing really pleases, or excites, or interests him, for sensual pleasure is quickly exhausted, and the society of philistines soon becomes burdensome, and one may even get tired of playing cards. --- Avoid - benefit will never outweigh loss.” ---------- Schopenhauer never tires of emphasizing how the wise man rich in mental capacities and interests in topics like philosophy or literature, the arts or sciences, is best avoiding hard-headed business types, gossip mongers and the never ending legions of good-time Charlies and vulgar buffoons.
“The truth is that the value we set upon the opinion of others, and our constant endeavor in respect of it, are each quite out of proportion to any result we may reasonably hope to attain; so that this attention to other people's attitude may be regarded as a kind of universal mania which everyone inherits.” ---------- No doubt we humans are social beings but if we want to truly be happy and live a life of tranquility and joy there is one question we must put aside: What do other people think of me? Much wiser to cherish one's privacy and solitude and stand on one's own.
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