Teachers and students are overwhelmed by social media influence and noise now, especially given AI options, and need to justify to themselves the value of their learning/thinking efforts.
I have always meant to read Schopenhauer but I have a short attention span but this was rather more accessible than I thought it would be. It felt fresh and immediate and seems a description as apt for now as when it was written. I really enjoyed this and rather agreed with him. I am not sure that academics (and others) lose themselves in the arguments though, they seem to me a sort of cloak that they put on and continue to wear because it is much admired. Everywhere others wear similar cloaks and they are comforted by that. They continue to wear it whilst it is still admired and suits the fashion of the day even when it’s soiled. They may even notice and secretly feel dirty but the cloak will not be put off until a new fashion comes along.
'Every true thinking man is therefore like a monarch: he is immediate and doesn’t recognize anybody above him. His judgements, like the decrees of a monarch, spring from his own perfect authority and arise directly from himself. For just as the monarch doesn’t accept any orders, so the thinking man doesn’t accept authorities, but refuses everything he hasn’t confirmed for himself. Whereas the vulgus among the heads, slave to all kinds of dominant opinions, authorities and biases, is like the common populace, silently obeying laws and orders...'
I think I see his point, but for me, reading is a critical process, where I look for resonance, and determine the extent to which the thoughts can be integrated into my own framework.
So… basically what he’s describing is the mid-wit meme 😂.
But in all seriousness, he’s pointing to a malady that afflicts many of us. I’ve spent much of my intellectual journey with a head filled with the thoughts of others. In my younger years, I spent much time sitting, walking, or fly-fishing in the woods, contemplating existence (while smoking a joint or three), largely uninterested in real academic study. Then as I “matured,” I decided to get serious about learning the thoughts of the “great thinkers.” Perhaps now in middle age, it’s time to venture back into the wilderness with nothing but my own thoughts (and perhaps a joint or three 😂).
"Those people who are so quick and eager to settle controversial issues by appeal to authority in reality are glad when they can, instead of using their own reason and insight, of which there is surely not enough, put forward that of strangers. Their number is legion."
The struggle is real, and it appears to be eternal.
Thanks for the Schopenhauer translation, Luc. I think this topic is all-too timely given the pressure for conformity, unanimity, and the convergence of thinking, especially according to the dictates of The Current Thing.
The comparison of the true thinker with the Monarch is quite interesting, If a bit unckear.
I think the best Word to describe it would be "soveregnity". A true thinker is always sovereign. He has no need of any authority, as much as he does not bow before one. He only recognizes truth and Sims to act as it's envoy.
Thank you, Luc! I needed to see this today. So much time spent “catching up” with everyone else’s thoughts, that I forget to cultivate and integrate my own. Again, thank you for your efforts ❤️
Thank you so much for sharing! What an incredible essay. I decided to read the original and it covers so many important things. Reminds me a lot of the following two scenes from Good Will Hunting: "My Boy's Wicked Smart" & Robin William's speech on the park bench.
Thought as a direct route to understanding and knowledge.
The individual as crucible where the dynamic of thought happens.
These three points of Schopenhauer should be cornerstones to addressing the suicidal hive mind of modernity, and the untenable condition that modernity advances.
I particularly enjoyed his discussion of true thought. Honestly, I was finding myself substituting the word 'dream' for 'thought' in this section, because for me the two follow identical paths.
Thank you for this translation. It is...superlative.
Thank you LP!
This is a very timely translation.
Teachers and students are overwhelmed by social media influence and noise now, especially given AI options, and need to justify to themselves the value of their learning/thinking efforts.
I have always meant to read Schopenhauer but I have a short attention span but this was rather more accessible than I thought it would be. It felt fresh and immediate and seems a description as apt for now as when it was written. I really enjoyed this and rather agreed with him. I am not sure that academics (and others) lose themselves in the arguments though, they seem to me a sort of cloak that they put on and continue to wear because it is much admired. Everywhere others wear similar cloaks and they are comforted by that. They continue to wear it whilst it is still admired and suits the fashion of the day even when it’s soiled. They may even notice and secretly feel dirty but the cloak will not be put off until a new fashion comes along.
'Every true thinking man is therefore like a monarch: he is immediate and doesn’t recognize anybody above him. His judgements, like the decrees of a monarch, spring from his own perfect authority and arise directly from himself. For just as the monarch doesn’t accept any orders, so the thinking man doesn’t accept authorities, but refuses everything he hasn’t confirmed for himself. Whereas the vulgus among the heads, slave to all kinds of dominant opinions, authorities and biases, is like the common populace, silently obeying laws and orders...'
I think I see his point, but for me, reading is a critical process, where I look for resonance, and determine the extent to which the thoughts can be integrated into my own framework.
From Cyrano:
'...I stand, not high it may be—but alone!...'
So… basically what he’s describing is the mid-wit meme 😂.
But in all seriousness, he’s pointing to a malady that afflicts many of us. I’ve spent much of my intellectual journey with a head filled with the thoughts of others. In my younger years, I spent much time sitting, walking, or fly-fishing in the woods, contemplating existence (while smoking a joint or three), largely uninterested in real academic study. Then as I “matured,” I decided to get serious about learning the thoughts of the “great thinkers.” Perhaps now in middle age, it’s time to venture back into the wilderness with nothing but my own thoughts (and perhaps a joint or three 😂).
Ur-potent. First use ever in english. schön!
"Those people who are so quick and eager to settle controversial issues by appeal to authority in reality are glad when they can, instead of using their own reason and insight, of which there is surely not enough, put forward that of strangers. Their number is legion."
The struggle is real, and it appears to be eternal.
Thank you for your translation…it sounds like you had fun while making this thinker much more accessible to native English speakers….thanks again,
Thanks for the Schopenhauer translation, Luc. I think this topic is all-too timely given the pressure for conformity, unanimity, and the convergence of thinking, especially according to the dictates of The Current Thing.
The comparison of the true thinker with the Monarch is quite interesting, If a bit unckear.
I think the best Word to describe it would be "soveregnity". A true thinker is always sovereign. He has no need of any authority, as much as he does not bow before one. He only recognizes truth and Sims to act as it's envoy.
This was amazing. Laughed out loud at some of it. Must read more Schopenhauer.
Translate MOAR
Thank you, Luc! I needed to see this today. So much time spent “catching up” with everyone else’s thoughts, that I forget to cultivate and integrate my own. Again, thank you for your efforts ❤️
Schopenhauer is truly a brilliant mind! One of a kind, for sure. Thanks for sharing this translation.
Thank you so much for sharing! What an incredible essay. I decided to read the original and it covers so many important things. Reminds me a lot of the following two scenes from Good Will Hunting: "My Boy's Wicked Smart" & Robin William's speech on the park bench.
The problem of being.
Thought as a direct route to understanding and knowledge.
The individual as crucible where the dynamic of thought happens.
These three points of Schopenhauer should be cornerstones to addressing the suicidal hive mind of modernity, and the untenable condition that modernity advances.
I particularly enjoyed his discussion of true thought. Honestly, I was finding myself substituting the word 'dream' for 'thought' in this section, because for me the two follow identical paths.
Thank you for this translation. It is...superlative.
I am going to read this. But perhaps off topic, this:
But I am too excited to meet a crazy person, if that's the case.
I am looking for a person to translate (with) the one Greek book from the library of the hms beagle.
My only ask is that my partner in crime, also have no business translating Greek.
-now back to reading...
"ur-potent thoughts to take up a book is a crime against the Holy Spirit." wonder what this means or implies? hmm? Very interesting.