The book of Upnekhat (Upanishad) was always open on his table, and he always studied it before going to bed. He called the opening of Sanskrit literature “the greatest gift of our century” and predicted that the philosophy and knowledge of the Upanishads would become the cherished faith of the West. [243] Most striking in the case of Schopenhauer`s work was the importance of Chandogya Upanishad, whose Mahāvākya, Tat Tvam Asi, is mentioned throughout the world as will and representation. [244] In another context, Schopenhauer repeated his eugenic thesis: “If you want utopian plans, I would say that the only solution to the problem is the despotism of the wise and noble members of a genuine aristocracy, of true nobility, obtained by associating the most magnanimous men with the most intelligent and gifted women. This proposal represents my utopia and my Platonic republic. [227] Analysts (e.g. Keith Ansell-Pearson) have suggested that Schopenhauer`s anti-egalitarian sentiment and support for eugenics influenced the neo-aristocratic philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche, who initially regarded Schopenhauer as his mentor. [228] But Schopenhauer is most famous for his influence on artists. Richard Wagner became one of the first and most famous followers of Schopenhauer`s philosophy.

[291] The admiration was not reciprocated, and Schopenhauer proclaimed, “I remain faithful to Rossini and Mozart!” [292] He was called “the philosopher of the artist.” [1] See also Schopenhauer`s influence on Tristan und Isolde. In 1851, Schopenhauer published Parerga and Paralipomena, which contained essays that complemented his major work. It was his first bestselling and widely read book, thanks in part to the work of his students writing commendable reviews. [157] The essays that proved to be the most popular were those that did not contain the basic philosophical ideas of his system. [158] Many academic philosophers considered him a great stylist and cultural critic, but did not take his philosophy seriously. [158] His early critics liked to point out the similarities between his ideas and those of Fichte and Schelling,[159] or claimed that there were many contradictions in his philosophy. [159] [160] Both critics enraged Schopenhauer. He was less interested in intellectual struggles, but encouraged his students to do so. [161] His private notes and correspondence show that he recognized some of the criticisms of contradictions, contradictions and vagueness in his philosophy, but asserted that he did not care about harmony and agreement in his propositions[162] and that some of his ideas were not to be understood literally, but as metaphors. [163] There are many useful introductions to Schopenhauer`s philosophy. Different authors reflect different individual main interests and philosophical prejudices about different parts of Schopenhauer`s metaphysics, ethics, aesthetics, philosophy of religion, etc.

Specialized topics in Schopenhauer are also given in the references in epistemology, philosophy of science, logic, and mathematics catalogued in this article; Metaphysics; aesthetics and philosophy of art; moral, ethical and political philosophy; etc. and in the collective term relevant secondary literature. All entries are listed alphabetically. The recommendations are those judged to be the best and most frequently cited introductory general overviews of Schopenhauer`s thought. Particularly useful for students with analytical and philosophical backgrounds are Gardiner 1967, Hamlyn 1980, Jacquette 2005 and Janaway 1994. Readers looking for a more cultural introduction to Schopenhauer, emphasizing Schopenhauer`s Kantian philosophical context, will particularly appreciate Magee 1983, Odell 2001, Tanner 1999, Wicks 2008, and Young 2005. All of these sources should be accessible both to patient readers of popular nonfiction books and to those with a background in study and philosophy. They do not necessarily reflect broadly consistent interpretations of Schopenhauer`s thought in areas where there is interesting controversy.