SCHOPENHAUER: How to Take Action (and Stop Overthinking)

When we read Schopenhauer’s advice for conducting oneself through society, or how to position oneself for material gain, or how to maximize happiness – one objection that often comes up is something like the following:

“Schopenhauer was a bitter, lonely old man who died alone and who alienated everyone around him… Is he really the kind of guy you want to take advice from?”

There is certainly some merit to this reaction. By all accounts, contemporaries describe Schopenhauer as a pain to be around, a killjoy who was overly confident in his own intellectual ability and tactlessly corrected everyone around him to the point of being downright insulting.

However, some biographical facts, which are often forgotten, paint a slightly more nuanced picture of the philosopher, when it comes to taking life advice from him.

Yes, it is true he lived off his father’s inheritance and never had to work a day in his life. But he also doubled his money through smart investments, while his mother and sister squandered their inheritance.

Yes, he was arrogant and overly confident in his own intellectual abilities. But he was correct to point out to his mother that her books and her name would soon be forgotten, while his work would stand the test of time and secure his place in the history of philosophy. Remember, he had this conversation with his mother while he was a no-name philosophy student who just finished his dissertation, while his mother was one the best-selling German authors of the time.

And yes, today he is known as a grumpy old man. That’s the age at which he became famous. But what is often overlooked, is how Schopenhauer started writing his philosophical magnum opus, The World As Will and Representation, when he was only 26 years old, and he finished this huge undertaking only four years later at the age of 30.

[WeltgeistYT]

Thank you guys for all the support! Please leave a comment and a like if you enjoyed this video. The algorithm thanks you.

[oneworldonehome]

"There is seeing a sign. Something stimulates you. You recognize something must be done. There is a time to contemplate, a time of knowing what this is, feeling the need to take it into your mind and your heart. Then there is a time of action. The action itself may have many stages. It may be a very long process, in fact, and that is true within the context of the Great Waves of change. Even a specific change that must be undertaken in one’s life may have many steps involved. You may only know the first few, but it is necessary to move with Knowledge. Only then will you know if what you are seeing is true. Only then will you know its great importance for your life.

People want to have certainty before they act, but it is the action itself that creates the certainty. It is the courage to move and to change one’s thinking and one’s circumstances that creates the certainty. This is the confirmation. People want to have no doubts before they act. But it is the action itself, if it is true and appropriate, that relieves you from doubt at last."

This is a quote from *The Great Waves of Change* - Chapter 14: Seeing, Knowing and Taking Action. You can read this book completely free online.

[frankchilds]

Thanks as always for your caring and moving work. There is a Zen saying that cautious us not to judge a teacher's flaws, rather take what works for you and do what you must do. Schopenhauer was human and gave us the best advice in his time and place...much of it stands the test of time. I am enlivened any time I can watch your videos!

[satnamo]

First,
I tell my self:

What kind of person do I want to become ?

Then I must do what I have to do.

I must build up my life action by action;

And be content if each action achieves its goal as far as possible,

And nothing can stop this from happening—

Except death.

[jmiller]

Thanks for another concise and clear Schopenhauer entry. I had the great good fortune of reading his magnum opus when I was around the same age he was when he wrote it. It has always accompanied me throughout life since then, a good and faithful companion.

[Calliqto]

When we stop praising the supriority of the intellect and adapt a more nuanced view with emotional care amongst the rows, only then will we lift ourselves from suffering.

[LolliPop]

Wild hair. My main college philosophy professor looked exactly like Schopenhauer (from the cover of the Dover paperback), most especially the hair. At the end of the term, he appeared at the final exam with his head almost shaved, to our great delight. Turned out that he had his hair cut once a year, just letting it grow out to Schopenhauer proportions, then having it cut ultra short for the summer. He had many such idiosyncrasies, making him a beloved campus figure. Ironically, he was a dogmatic Hegelian who never so much as mentioned Schopenhauer, and would have failed any one who dared to do so.

[ThomasAndersonPhD]

1:23 This is one of the issues with pictures and portraits!
The book cover you show is a perfect example. The picture is of Schopenhauer as an older man, but it was written when he was much younger. It is so easy to forget that explicitly because the pictures don't match!

The same is true of Bach. We have the stuffy old-man in a powdered wig portrait of Bach. That portrait completely fails to evoke how badass and full of life he was! Bach was a badass! He went AWOL, doing on on trips to learn more music even though his bosses didn't want him to go. He just walked there!

[souravnair]

Your content is immaculate.
"Mesmerized by Arthur Schopenhauer series"..
Keep going..Stupifying videos ♥️

[oldmaddgaf]

I don't care what people think I love Schopenhauer I find him insightful and entertaining.

[giljorge]

I would love to see a video on Schopenhauer and his Mother, their relation, discussion...

[ketzk]

Love your videos and you have a perfect voice / tone for explaining some of the hard to understand philosophers.

[BNK]

I am so glad that I found this channel.

[Existentialist-earthling]

This has been very helpful. Thank you!

[lilatolouian]

Thank you for this video!!! You always post the perfect videos just when I need them!! 💙💙💙

[deanodog]

Bit like the archer analogy by EPICTETUS

[emmanueljmondesire]

Thank you for a clear and concise Schopenhauer entry!

[mountainmanchuck]

Well done! Will you ever do a video on the relationship between Nietzsche and Schopenhauer, covering the nuances as to why Nietzsche ultimately rejected him? I really enjoy your content, I'm looking forward to longer form content, especially on Nietzsche.

[transcend]

Absolutely lovely content! Love your videos! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Ariannie]

Great channel, subscribed!
By the way, the correct pronunciation of the Bhagavad Gita is to pronounce both Gs as in "good".