I think being “pain free and not bored” would be an amazing way to live.

What struck me about Schopenhauer's essays is how funny a lot of them are. People talk a lot about how miserable he was, but my impression is that, like Louis-Ferdinand Celine, a lot of what he wrote was written with a smirk.

That Sean Connery impression was spot on lol.

This is where Nietzsche diverged from Schopenhauer; according to Nietzsche, we should not only not avoid suffering, but welcome it. For it's in the overcoming of obstacles, such as suffering, that man feels most alive, most powerful. Hence, Nietzsche's 'Will to Power'. Denial and avoidance of suffering is denial and avoidance of life.

@antherthalmhersser7239

Жыл бұрын

A man who lived life to the fullest

@Skyjacker_

Жыл бұрын

@@Javeriffic His philosophy couldn't be any more grounded in life, unless you think there's a firmer footing than the minutiae of psychological insights and one's own culture. I don't think his philosophy had anything to do with his collapse, but was a result of the syphilis he'd contracted years earlier in Cologne. And yes, the vast majority of people (the "common man") have not read his books.

@Ennuibody

Жыл бұрын

You can cope and hope in your unconsented life as much you want, but the question remains: why introduce your own flesh and blood into this labyrinth?

@Skyjacker_

Жыл бұрын

@@Ennuibody What makes you think that anybody “introduced” themselves into life?

@Ennuibody

Жыл бұрын

@@Skyjacker_ I was referring to offspring

Charming and insightful review. Thank you.

Great review, definitely want to check this one out!

You say ‘that kind of academia needs to die’ yet being able to make some basic sense of Schopenhauer’s metaphysics and the tradition it stems from will help you understand his attitude towards life even better than you already do.

Love your work.

11:00 Well Actually... you are probably not mistaken, there was a French academic from the XIX century called Paul Janet who famously described Schopenhauer's system as an example of philosophical materialism, and many other scholars have interpreted Schopenhauer as a materialist since then.

As far as attaining nirvana or whatever, maybe you can get a third of the way? And that’s pretty good.

One of your best Cliff. I loved this review. - JC

Just came back to your channel after a two year absence and remembered what a funny, clever, sophisticated, intelligent, caring fellow you are. People are always recommending their 'favoritist' book to others without realizing that others see things differently and might just disregard their their suggestions. However, that's no reason to stop doing it. The right book will find the right reader. Praising Pessoa's 'Book of Disquiet,' as you have, will earn you a place in heaven. So, with that in mind, I beg of you do not read "On Aging" by Jean Amery. You will thank me!!

@BetterThanFoodBookReviews

Жыл бұрын

It’s very kind of you, thanks very much for stopping by and watching. Noted re Amery.

I am in pain all the time. Does that mean I am really living?

Thank you for this vid.

Good stuff. I wanna read it. Thanks.

Great review, as always! I studied philosophy and wanted to devote my life to it by becoming professor but being in academic philosophical environment felt like the most important part of it , which to me is freedom of thought got lost in all the rules of academia. Although I understand the importance of defining general rules in science for the sake to have any kind of discussion , it was still quite disappointing and overhwelming and was enough for me to give up my dream unfortunately. You should do a review on Agota Kristof's the notebook. It's an amazing book and considering your taste in literature I am sure you would absolutely love it!

Love the sardonic comments regarding the unbearable pretentiousness of certain elements of academia. Couldn't agree more.

I think you would enjoy "Losing Ourselves: Learning to live without a self" by Jay. L. Garfield. It's very accessibly-written and draws heavily on eastern philosophy which it sounds like you're already fairly well-acquainted with. I'd argue the concept of a pre-formed, "authentic," inner self that we have to discover is one of the key components of the suffering you discussed in this video.

15:30 - You should read Zapffe's (short) essay The Last Messiah if you haven't! This is pretty much exactly what he's saying. He basically out-Schopenhauer'd Schopenhauer.

On my TBR. Thx, Cliff 😁

As a “pretentious” college student and a poorly philosophically educated idiot, I could not agree more. We truly are simple idiots, loosely strung up by the thin fabric of ego we wrap around ourselves. Our entire self identity and character is nothing but a simple rouse designed by capitalism to make us feel good about paying them. God bless you Clifford.

Looking forward to review of on the suffering

Monologuing myself into a rant is a preferred pastime of mine as well, nicely done :-DDD

Sir, where mightest I purchase the mug you were sipping from in this video? Great review, I've added it to my tbr list. Seems there would be a lot of thoughts to consider.

@BetterThanFoodBookReviews

Жыл бұрын

Thanks a bunch man, mugs can be purchased here: www.zazzle.com/better_than_food_coffee_mug-168249045611119837

Woah, I've been thinking about reading him soon

I really enjoyed this thank you. Could I ask a question about your comment regarding ascetesists and them finding enlightenment. I feel that there is a possible alternative that might be those that reached enlightenment might have come to the conclusion that some things must be learned and not taught. I am not enlightened. What do I know. Thank you Sir, appreciate your work.

Great one, Cliff. More Non Fiction in BTF theme please.

Living in the past or the future, is where humans feel the most anxiety ... leaving only one other place where angst doesn't feel at home. Anxiety is for most humans their constant shadow,. For 'being in the present' is reality... and the place where humans rarely ever find themselves.

I gotta read this now, thanks for the recommendation Cliff. Reading Robert Caro’s The Power Broker. Holy shit, Cliff, you would love it. It’s a titanic work. Epic in scope if not in theme. Like Citizen Kane if Kane was truly, truly malignant. And if he was responsible for building modern New York City. I’m only 1/6th of the way through and holy shit.

If you want to review a hardly noticed and forbidden nihilist book: Fantazius Mallare by Ben Hecht (1922) It’s limited publication earned him a hefty fine and the book banned. Undoubtedly an overlooked classic. Short with sentences that pack huge punches. I think it’s right up your alley. Great video

I really enjoyed this book and also don't really see as pessimism... Love the connection with stoicism. I recommend reading "The Schopenhauer cure", from Irvin D. Yalom (The author of "When Nietzsche wept"), it's about a therapist who discovers himself with a terminal illness and decides to contact a patient which he didn't manage to help or "cure", and the patient tells him that he was cured by Schopenhauer. Also recommend "The book of disquiet", by Fernando Pessoa. :)

@graybow2255

Жыл бұрын

I've read The Book of Disquiet in two different translations. One of my favourite books.

23:39 I think the idea is that consciousness comes with an awareness of suffering, so being unconscious, or I guess completely non-conscious, is preferred because that is when one is unaware of suffering. One could reason from there that not being born or being dead is thus preferable because one lacks consciousness for the longest period of time-forever. Seems dope.

Still looking foreward watching your take on Herman Hesse Steppenwolf (The dude quote at 21:38 min.)

You should do a Q&A :D

Please review A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller

I just bought a copy of Demian.

Clifford did well in this video, speaking quite eloquently about Schopenhauer without having read his magnum opus.

Great one! Best regards from Schopenhauer city Gdańsk 🙂:-) 🙂

Do you know anything about rumble?

I think the good life is not an easy question too answer. I think human existence is not easily explained, but it is the pursuit that makes it worth living . Suffering is apart of life yet so is joy and love. I think the pessimistic quest is a noble one still. I love your videos keep doing what your doing. You speak your mind on an app that is all consuming much love to you

Interested in your take on the comsuming compelling books that dont actually change your life. So a good majority of books you review could fall in this category? However you have a channel that is a means for income so you gauge the reading worth it? Elaborate pls, interested

I’m so curious to know what you’d feel about “Checkout 19”!

Literature gives you many lives.

11:58 to 12:07, wow! Schopenhauer’s spirit really entered your body man😂

I came from the darkness, and I will return there, I know. But, just to be alive and sleep and live in dreams in this real world was enough for me. I did so many fun things alive in my skin and my clothes, even still middle aged I appreciate my time and the simple things it has afforded me to create. Please review Michael Shea's "The Extra" if you ever feel inclined.

general advice 1: don't read about philosophers before you have read them yourself general advice 2: don't read youtube commenters summary / advice about philosophers general advice 3 (contradicting both 1 & 2): you should read Bernardo Kastrups book on Schopenhauer, it's short and metaphysics is really hard to wrap your head around, especially once you have grocked one you tend to get stuck and have trouble understanding other ontologies so in this case having someone summarizing is helpful Ps i agree that Schopenhauer is actually quite funny

What does it matter what you do with your life if it doesn't matter in the end? To my way of thinking, do what you like (with the caveat to do as little harm to others as possible). If your inclination is to be lazy, then go with it. If we are to not worry about other's opinions, then why fight yourself and struggle against it? If it's to be the best you can be or something in the middle, then go for that. Whatever you feel, need or desire.

If your interest in transcendence is quenched by 24/7 instant cultural gratification, what will be left to strive towards? Who wants to create art, when there is not much mystery in it anymore? We will become the actual world of Bicycle Repair Man.

"Men are tied up to their famililes and possessions more helplessly than in a prison. There is an occassion for the prisoner to be released, but the housholders entertain no desire to be relieved from the ties of family. Even into the paws of a tiger, he will jump. Those who are thus drowned in the filth of passion are called the ignorant. Those who are able to overcome it are saintly Arhats" - BUDDHA

Just read volume one of World as Will and Representation! That’s where he gives the real goods! A magnificent vision! It is readable and FUN because he makes fun of other philosophers. He gets straight to the heart of the matter on page one. As a bonus he makes Kant intelligible! His solution to the mind body problem basically still stands and is (I think) consistent with modern science. Don’t skip the whole thing just because you feel you would need to read both volumes! Volume two is just adding more examples and details about what he says in volume one!

I just got my hands on a copy of this one (thank you, Dover Press!), and I am not sure what to say about it that has not been said here.

Cliff is my favorite fellow Cretin.

Rust from True Detective if he stopped drinking

...very very accurate! ( and good one: "has anybody done it since Bhudda? NO!" h.

@Zentasy72

Жыл бұрын

How do you actually know that? Have you read the Pali Canon? It's very difficult to get there so not many people have done it

Second time watching this. I’ve got Schopenhauer over in a side table scaring the crap out of me.

I was going to send you an email with some plans I have but I have some trust issues because someone I thought was a friend tried to steal my work. Stuff I literally almost died writing. It’s lonely, this life.

@rathodkaran6190

Жыл бұрын

You good brah?

@PatchyTheFox

Жыл бұрын

@@rathodkaran6190 totally.

@rathodkaran6190

Жыл бұрын

@@PatchyTheFox alright good to know, take care of yourself

@PatchyTheFox

Жыл бұрын

@@rathodkaran6190 Thanks! You too. :)

It’s not true, people who experience awakening/enlightenment often have the opposite experience of seeing that it’s pointless to tell anyone. The thing that is realised was always there and the extra-level phenomena of the persona/story has simply been removed or made transparent. Enjoyed the video.

I haven’t read don quixote

I CANT WITH THE CONTENT ANYMORE. ITS TOO MUCH (great video by the way)

Actually more and more people achieve Nirvana and the word is out (I guess it depends where you look for the information). They are teaching and their students also achieve Nirvana. Buddha definitely wasn't the only one. They are not just monks, but regular people having families.

i dont agree with the thing about nobody achieved nirvana, its just that people would be skeptical if somebody said they reached. if you reached then you will have the wisdom that some people will go leaps and bounds to discredit you or even try to harm you so whats the point trying to spread it, and tbh nobody would believe them. people always want someone to give them eternal happiness not even asking if they deserve it. what you gon do with eternal happiness, we are all enamored by fleeting material objects and experiences majority would rather have that actually…why ? because its familiar. i mean we cant even imagine what real eternal happiness is….is it transitioning to death? if thats the case then most people will refuse. we live on earth which is material so if you really will get eternal happiness in one fell swoop you might not be able to take it ur little mind might explode, thats why also some will train,meditate, be ascetic as to be empty and be able to take enlightenment.

I have actually achieved Nirvana. It’s not what it’s cracked up to be.

👏👏👏

Can you please tell me where Pessoa said that? (literature is just a nother way to waist your time) I agree, literature, art and philosophy are just superficially concerned with really meaningful matters. Greetings!

@BetterThanFoodBookReviews

Жыл бұрын

It's from "The Book of Disquiet". The exact quote is "Literature is the most agreeable way of ignoring life." www.goodreads.com/quotes/290108-to-write-is-to-forget-literature-is-the-most-agreeable#:~:text=Literature%20is%20the%20most%20agreeable,by%20turning%20in%20into%20slumber.

@sunnymorning8240

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@@BetterThanFoodBookReviews Shukran! (=thank you!)

@littledebby365

Жыл бұрын

@@BetterThanFoodBookReviews wow!

Cliff read about Sadhguru , he is enlightened and reached the state of bliss. He is everything you said

I think at the end of the day a successful life or life ''not wasted'' would be a life where you did things you enjoyed and wanted to do. That's all we can do in the end. If it's reading silly novels that make you laugh... at least you laughed a lot in your life :D

He’s not just a grumpy old man. This is not his real contribution. As you indicated, he might have published this “to make some scratch.” Read Volume 1! He’s not misanthropic!

However you look at it, academic professional philosophy is oxymoronic. Leave philosophy to the intelligent amateurs. Straight from the heart to the heart. From here to eternity... e.g. Ram Dass. Bhagavad Gita 2.12: “There was never a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor these lords of men; nor shall any of us cease to exist in the future.”

@livioventura5061

Жыл бұрын

I'm at the first year of philosophy in university and I partly agree, most professors just take the life out of the spirit of philosophy which should be very open and full of discussion. A lot of it seems a circle-jerk of an elite who have studied a lot and manage to often talk about nothing at all. Studying philosophy independently was more fun and interesting for me

@marqpsmythe228

Жыл бұрын

@@livioventura5061 Human, All Too Human ❤️‍🔥

If you read Volume One you can skip Kant!

Have you read Infinite Jest yet? Man, life is short. A giant Florida house lizard could eat you tomorrow. Better get to it

Read Demon Copperhead.

I’m more seduced by Schopenhauer’s character than his philosophy. Read the bio by David Cartwright.

Schopenhauer was great writer but not really an important philosopher. Hegel was a great philospher but mostly a terrible writer, anyone approaching Hegel should do it via writings on Hegel. It's worth taking Schopenhauer (and Nietsche) seriously but I'm sure a lot of people are prejudiced because the of the accessibility, which is why artists and musicians tended to be attracted to them more than academic philosophers.

@schumanhuman

Жыл бұрын

@@AllenCrawford3 Hegel has a wide influence, literally left and right Hegelianism is a thing. I'm a Georgist, like Tolstoy, none the less I accept on some level Hegel's radical attack on the classical economists superficiality even as I utterly reject most of Marx. Plato was a totalitarian, Nietzsche is the favourite philosopher of the seral killer, none of this means we should not read them.

11:05 I don't know why this annoys you so much. You seem to view someone correcting you as inherently aggressive and snobbish, but I don't think it is. It's just a correction. If you don't care about knowing how terms are used in philosophy circles, then it doesn't matter and you can just ignore it. If you are curious, then you've learned something. (Unless their correction is itself incorrect)

I’m thinking about leaving KZread.

You disagreeing with Schopenhauer and saying a life always chasing distraction from pain is a life wasted is so damn introspective. Love that point of view coming from a book lover and fiction enthusiast.

Henry James, , next ...don't stop.... there's a reason Shakespeare is a house hold name in a society where reading is not common...if you ask yourself why then your like me ...and will suffer..

Hesse's Siddhartha is not based on the Buddha. They share a name only.

Schauopenhouauer

This is very true about work not being recognized. It’s very hard, it’s like, there’s lots going on right now anyway, but, like, literally two weeks ago I was crying because it’s like I have literally reinvented literature and nobody cares. It’s like, I didn’t do it for me! lol… and so I had to put it aside and start on the next project because I can’t worry about the last few getting recognition because worry doesn’t do anybody any good either. So, hopefully this next one gets some lift and if not, I’ll try again. And it’s like, hard, because there’s really nobody to talk to about it. People either don’t care or they literally don’t understand it or the work or it’s something people think I just want to be heard like everyone else or that I think I’m some sort of entitled or whatever. So it’s like okay I’ll just go back to my hole and write some more. And like it sucks because you see all these people writing pop fix and people saying how masterful and stuff it is and it’s hard to not become bitter. But, again, being bitter doesn’t help anyone either.

The thing is, you go and try to share this stuff and people call you crazy.

Wow this guy is getting all sorts of attention now ...in certain circles.... who's next montaniagne.. society choice to look the other way we choice science and technology...and told guys like this to shut up....now people are finally realizing MAN DO NOT LIVE OF BREAD ALONE....when you kids have no ambition and see everything as pointless and are shooting dope...society decides to hear them out....maybe Satre , Yung, kerigaard, tolstoy , were actually saying something ...yes ....these guys have the right questions ....no one has the answers..

He really loved women didn't he? XD

@kdot78

Жыл бұрын

Yeah he had a really great relationship with his mother. Love this guy. I aspire to be like him.

@anab0lic

Жыл бұрын

his analysis of the female gender is extremely accurate.

@kdot78

Жыл бұрын

@@anab0lic I agree

@antigaia1817

Жыл бұрын

@@anab0lic If you're a misogynist yes it's very accurate. Much like race realism is very accurate to a racist.

@anab0lic

Жыл бұрын

@@antigaia1817 he was just a realist. Spoke the truth at a time where you had still had the freedom to do so.

On the Jordan Peterson subreddit, they said that you were a big proponent of Jordan's teachings against the woke SJW-left and abhorrent trans-activists, and seemingly especially his first book The Maps of Meaning - which I think you reviewed and gived high praise to. You found it to be incredibly important to your personal development as a man, and I heard that you even interviewed him. Is there somewhere where this interview could be found? I linked your channel in the Jordan Peterson forums and I think it's especially great that his literary work is being hailed in the book community. All the best!

At about 15 minutes you are strawmanning Schop. He does not actually disagree with what you are saying. Avoid suffering intelligently, with regard for your own future, not stupidly, like an addict, so no, don't become an alcoholic. Intelligent hedonism implies some form of asceticism, precisely the opposite of impulsive indulgence. You can't escape, just reduce. Hence the pessimism and anti-life stance. You don't need to do anything with the life you were given. Who told you that? Wtf are you saying, dude? Maan, Nietzsche should not be calling anyone deluded, Schopenhauer in the least.