These two important essays show Schopenhauer at his most accessible,
offering two self-contained and clearly argued contributions to ethical
theory, published here in a new translation that preserves
Schopenhauer's style in a lucid and engaging way. This is also the only
paperback edition to publish both essays together. Schopenhauer argues,
in uniquely powerful prose, that self-consciousness gives the illusion
of freedom and that human actions are determined, but that we rightly
feel guilt because our actions issue from our essential individual
character. He locates moral value in the virtues of loving kindness and
voluntary justice that spring from the fundamental incentive of
compassion. Morality's basis is ultimately metaphysical, resting on an
intuitive identification of the self with all other striving and
suffering beings. The Introduction by leading Schopenhauer scholar
Christopher Janaway gives a clear summary of the argument of the essays
in the context of
Schopenhauer's life and works and the history of ethics in the modern
period. The volume includes helpful notes, up-to-date bibliography, and
a full index.
About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has
made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the
globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to
scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other
valuable features, including expert introductions by leading
authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date
bibliographies for further study, and much more.
