logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2025
1h 30m

Episode 315: Ceaseless Striving (Schopen...

Tamler Sommers & David Pizarro
About this episode

David and Tamler tackle the topic chosen by our beloved Patreon supporters in the first VBW madness tournament – Schopenhauer. We discuss his essays "On the Sufferings of the World" and "The Vanity of Existence," their strikingly modern perspectives on human life and behavior and the influences Schopenhauer took from Eastern thought. Plus, David has Tamler do a blind ranking of movie directors. 

Arthur Schopenhauer [plato.stanford.edu]

Arther Schopenhauer [iep.utm.edu]

The Essays of Schopenhauer: Studies in Pessimism [full-text from gutenberg.org]

Up next
Oct 29
The Lotus Eaters Episode 13: An Odyssey Dream Cast [unlocked]
In the final episode of The Lotus Eaters, Tamler and David make their casting decisions (any actors across history) for their dream "Odyssey" film. We then end with some broader thoughts about The Odyssey and our experience doing The Lotus Eaters. Thank you for coming along with ... Show More
52m 11s
Oct 27
Episode 343: Culture and the Concept of a Person
How would you a describe a friend or a co-worker? Would you list their personality traits like generous, aggressive, principled, or stubborn? Or would you give more concrete context-filled descriptions ("she argues with her parents a lot," "she brings us donuts at work sometimes" ... Show More
1h 18m
Oct 22
The Lotus Eaters Episode 12: Reunited in Ithaca [unlocked]
As foretold in the prophecies, Tamler and David unite in Ithaca to cover the final chapters (23 & 24) of The Odyssey, in which Odysseus passes Penelope's final test, reunites with Laertes, and Athena and Zeus do a little deus ex machina-ing and prevent the suitors' families from ... Show More
1h 1m
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2021
David Bather Woods on Schopenhauer on Compassion
Arthur Schopenhauer is best known for the deep pessimism of his book The World as Will and Representation. Here we focus on a slightly less pessimistic aspect of his philosophy: his views on compassion. Very unusually for an early nineteenth century thinker, he was influenced her ... Show More
24m 6s
Nov 2007
Schopenhauer - The World as Will and Idea
What is the nature of reality? Why can music be so profound? Are we doomed to suffer or is extended happiness possible? Should we choose a life of asceticism? These are some of the questions that Arthur Schopenhauer addressed in The World as Will and Idea. In this episode of Phil ... Show More
12m 35s
Mar 2017
Episode #098 ... Schopenhauer pt. 1 - Metaphysics and Love
Today we begin our discussion on Arthur Schopenhauer. Thank you so much for listening! Could never do this without your help. Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis Social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethis ... Show More
23m 37s
Nov 2021
18: Arthur Schopenhauer, part I: Will & Representation
Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) is known today as the ultimate pessimist among philosophers. Among Nietzsche's influences, perhaps none can be said to be more significant than Schopenhauer. Given that Nietzsche promoted a life philosophy that was ultimately "yes-saying" and full ... Show More
1h 39m
Feb 2022
German Philosophy: Schopenhauer and Nietzsche
In this episode, Alyson and Breht introduce, teach, and discuss the philosphy of two giants in western philosophy: Arthur Schopenhaur and Friedrich Nietzsche.  They discuss their respective philosophies, how they relate, how they differ, the subsequent thinkers and movements they ... Show More
2h 9m
Jun 2023
[BEST OF] German Philosophy: Schopenhauer and Nietzsche
tail spinning
2h 13m
Nov 2016
Episode #094 ... A Look at Suffering
Today we look at the concept of suffering from multiple different angles including the philosopher Fyodor Dostoyevsky and the movement in Transhumanism known as The Hedonistic Imperative. Thank you so much for listening! Could never do this without your help. Website: https://www ... Show More
30m 8s