The sun., 1891-01-11

IQHObOpulCnl bEenisv Oh 'aS
fold Root OF the Principle OF Sufncient
Reason" His mother. who herself dabbled In
literature. and with whom her son never could
get on-he had cause to consider her un-
faithful to his fathers memory-said that tho
title savored OF the herbalsts shop. ana when
he retorted that his book would be read when
a COPY OF her writings would scarcely be found
even in a lumber room. she replied that at that
time the whole edition OF his treatise would
still bo procurable. such were the amenities
that led Schopenhauer to take . sour view OF
tho feminine character and OF the institution
OF marriage The truth IL, no doubt, that In
this initial essay the author did not display the
fiuAncy OF style and effectiveness OF Illustration
which distinguish his later work. Neverths-
less, they who have read 1t say that his charac-
toristio views appear In 1t, and he himself de-
ecribod IL as indispensable to q comprehension
OF his system 1t seems that in this academical
proluslon he attacked what he deemed
the vicious habit OF unduly magnifyinR the
power OF reasoninR-by which he meant ab-
straction and generalization. The mere
reason. he says. deals only at secondhand
with truth which IL originally given by the In.
tuition OF experience. Tho real nerve OF
science he Insists. Is to be looked for In intelli-
gent judgment and not In reasoning. As re-
cards the relation OF moral and physical
csusstion. he maintains that motivation u
only causation eeen from the inside. In the
physical world causallty merely means that
every phenomenon 10 tho prolongatton or oon-
tinuation Of another preceding 1t: but In the
case OF the will or motivation the observing
900 IL both subject and object; It stands be-
hind the curtain and is directly aware OF the
inner bond Of union between cause and eneot
After receiving his degree at jena, schopen-
hausr passed few months at Weimsr with
his mother. but their natures were incompati-
bie. aud hs loft soS II 1914. never to see her
again. although she lived some twsnty-fous
years longer To 1lial pisty he made no pre-
tensions. and 1t may be doubted whether the
feeling can exist in the absence Of Its counter
part. maternal devotion and sacrifice. Fsuer-
bach. the eminent oriminslist has recorded In
his memoirs his opinion OF Nine. Schopen-
hausr. Makes profession" he says. OF cru
dtion. Authoresa Prattles much and we'll
intelliaently; without heart and soul. self-
complacent eager for appreciation. ana con-
stantly smiling to herself. God preserve US
from women whose mind has shot up into
more intellect" Reading this comment long
| aiterward. schopenhauer found 1t true to ma
ture, and added that he could not, God for
give him, keep from laughing" Refusing -.
sent to the common notion that great mon
| owe to their mothers much Of their character.
as we'll as talent, Schopenhauer averred that the
| will was inherited from tho father. the intel
lect from the mother.
The four years between 1914 and 1918 were
| passed at Dresden. and were devoted to the
| composition OF the treatise. Tho World as
viii and Idea" which. although It is the prin-
| cipal work OF Schopenhauer fell still born
| from the press. Sixteen years afterward tho
! publisher informed the author that tho greater
part Of the copies printed had been sold Tor
waste paper. In 1874 schopenhauer. then 81
years old. induced the publisher to bring out o
second edition in two volumes. but this. too.
| went on so slowly that the price had to be re-
| duced In the interval he had travelled much
| In italy; had entered on tho career OF prtrdt
| decent or unsalaried lecturer. at Berlin but
| had failed much to his chagrin. to attract an
| audience and had finally settled down In
| Frankfort. where he spent the greater part OF
| his remaining years, and where to his mingled
delight and amazement he saw himself gradu-
ally becoming Q famous man. In order to COM
| plete the picture OF Schopenhauer the author
Of the life in tho Great Writers" series. Mr.
william Wallace. allots chapter to an account
Of his subjects chief work. " Tho World as
viii and Idea"
| Nv.
We are told that we should recognize In this
book an exposition not 80 much OF system a.
| Of single conception. 1t 10 not an aoademt-
cal discourse without any intended bearings
upon conduct, but purports to be the gospel OF
Q true life The author assails the Waterfalls
tic philosophy Of the scientists He insists
that the chief place In philosophy belongs. not
10 the intellect, but to the will. by which he
| seems to mean the whole congeries OF feelings
| n.a ao.irao ThA ao.nallad " realitieRn Of sci-
snce being mere appearances (ideasl science
can never give final explanation OF reality.
| The true philosophy connects ideas with re-
slity: its fund damentai principle Is the identity
In man between the perceived tmateraD body
and the felt ummatsriaD will. BY his possess
sion Of intellect man has lost his original fell
lowship with all things. but by an exercise
Of the will he can regain that unity Of feeling
the resemblance OF these ideas to the capital
principles Of Buddhism need not be pointed
out. In the artistic genius. according to
schopenhsuer. this unity OF feeling finds full
est expression: the function OF art Is to reveal
the fundamental unity OF all existence. Mans
ignorance OF this unity results In his selfish
quest OF happiness and consequent wrong
doing, which law can do no more than curb.
It ia the function OF morality to purge tho In
diyidusl will OF its eRoism. The highest life.
IN ilne, is that Of the man who. dead to the lust
OF life. has ascsnded from tho natural to tho
spiritual Every reader will here recognize a
version OF the philosophy OF Gautama- In
deed. 1t 10 schopenhauer who has made Bud
dhism the fashion.
v.
Sohopenhauer never married. He always.
however, kept dog near him. and rated that
animal higher than the average woman Here.
too. his views wore Asiatio. Woman. In his
judgment having been by nature destined
solely for the duty Of child.besring. occupied
In Western Christendom totally false posi-
tion. which was largely to blame for tho rest
less struggles OF civilization. Tho East knows
no suoh maxim 20 Cherchez la femme Wom-
ans life. eliminating In Q few years sudden
burst of charms. solely in the interest OF the
species. leaves her otherwise perpetual child,
needing guidance and tutelage. incapable
OF being ruled except By fear. and
henos constant mlne OF danger.
Morality. strictly speaking, ,.Sohopenhsuer In:
sists that she has none, save an uRreRsoned
WeAknOa for compassion, Essentially unjust