The stunning accuracy of the intuitions and insights gained by Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) becomes apparent when we compare him with other philosophers. Many have attacked Schopenhauer’s views on the nature of existence but the attacks have only served to reinforce his positions. You cannot dismiss Schopenhauer by saying that he was too pessimistic or nihilistic. Why not? Because, when you analyse the details, you will see that his observations match reality. For better or for worse, he was objective and precise. Schopenhauer’s views on the nature of existence rest on his theory of the will, the life force that drives all living creatures. The will awakes endless desires in us, and if you do not know how to counteract it, you are likely to make dire mistakes. His work “Parerga and Paripomena” (1851) gives valuable advice to minimise suffering and secure happiness. You cannot call pessimistic a philosopher who identifies risks and outlines effective countermeasures. Those who compare Schopenhauer with Franz Kafka (1883-1924) are profoundly mistaken. Kafka struggled all his life and the heroes in his works are overwhelmed by external forces, but those forces do not correspond to Schopenhauer’s theory of the will. In his early years, Kafka suffered from a tense relationship with his authoritarian father, Hermann Kafka, but such tension has nothing to do with Schopenhauer’s theory of the will. Kafka spent most of his professional life working as a legal counsel for an insurance company. His job made him regard modern society as hierarchical, bureaucratic and abusive; that’s the type of society that he depicted in his novel “The Trial,” published posthumously in 1937. In “The Trial,” Josef K becomes the victim of a bewildering legal system; he is arrested, but the charges against him remain secret; he is prosecuted without having the chance to articulate a defence. The trial ends with his irregular execution. The absurd world depicted by Kafka has nothing to do with Schopenhauer’s philosophy. Kafka’s heroes are passive victims of circumstances, but Schopenhauer warned against passivity. Schopenhauer advised readers to reduce risks and enhance their self-sufficiency and self-reliance. He warned them against the dangers brought about by the will and advised them to take effective steps. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/impact-of-schopenhauers-views-on-the-nature-of-existence/