Arthur Schopenhauer
1
8.3
- proper noun
- /ˈɑrθər ˈʃoʊpənhaʊər/
- Arthur Schopenhauer argued that human desires are never fully satisfied, leading to inevitable suffering.
Examples
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Many students of philosophy study the works of Arthur Schopenhauer to understand pessimism.
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The influence of Arthur Schopenhauer can be seen in the writings of later existentialist thinkers.
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Many students study Arthur Schopenhauer in philosophy classes.
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Did you read any of Arthur Schopenhauer's works?
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Arthur Schopenhauer is best known for his views on the futility of human desires, which emphasize the inevitability of suffering.
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Philosophers often reference Arthur Schopenhauer when discussing the themes of pessimism and the human condition.
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The ideas of Arthur Schopenhauer have profoundly influenced many modern thinkers in metaphysics and ethics.
Synonyms
5
9.8
A German philosopher known for the idea that life is often unhappy and for influencing later thinkers
Surface Forms
Morphology
Arthur + Schopenhauer
This is a personal name (proper noun) rather than a compositional phrase; knowing the constituent tokens 'Arthur' and 'Schopenhauer' does not allow a learner to infer the biographical/professional meaning (a 19th-century German philosopher). Proper names are referential and arbitrary across languages, so their meanings are not derivable from their parts for a B1 learner.
Etymology
Arthur Schopenhauer was a German philosopher known for a simple, strong image: he said life is driven by a restless inner force called the 'will', like a hungry engine that never stops wanting. Because this never-ending wanting causes pain, his name is linked to 'pessimism', the idea that life often brings suffering.