Schopenhauers Broken World-View: Colours and Ethics between Kant and Goethe (Science and Philosophy Book 10)

Schopenhauer's philosophy, at first sight so beautifully rounded, upon analysis reveals itself as the secret arena of two conflicting world-views. The present analysis considers the conflict by confronting Schopenhauer as a 'disciple-of-sorts of Kant' with Schopenhauer as 'Goethe's one-time collaborator on the theory of colour'. Here the two meet over profound issues which the Scientific Revolution of the 17th century has ineluctably put before us: what is the right level at which to apprehend nature; what is the proper foundation for a consistent ethics; how (if at all) to arrive at a unified conception of a world broken by modern science? In this deeply-delving, lucidly written, humane and erudite study, the history of philosophical currents is blended with history of science, with history of ideas generally, and (to elucidate relevant portions of Schopenhauer's biography and intellectual and social environment) with German history too. The analysis, while benefiting from the scholarly literature, is grounded primarily in original research among the collected works of Schopenhauer, Kant and Goethe, considered in all their philosophical, scientific, and literary variety. Front Matter....Pages I-IX Introduction....Pages 1-7 Kant, Goethe, and the Mechanization of the World-Picture....Pages 9-40 Five Decisive Years....Pages 41-52 Colours....Pages 53-82 The Antinomy: Can the World be in My Head, Yet My Head be in the World?....Pages 83-116 Bien Etonnés: Hegel and Schopenhauer as Partisans of Goethe’s Theory of Colours....Pages 117-134 Ethics....Pages 135-164 Ethics and Metaphysics....Pages 165-196 The Paradox: Can God Commit Suicide?....Pages 197-229 In Praise of Realism....Pages 231-259 Back Matter....Pages 261-291