Head, JM and Vanden Auweele, D (2020) Schopenhauer on Christ, Suffering and the Negation of the Will. International Journal of Philosophical Studies. ISSN 0967-2559

[thumbnail of Schopenhauers-Christology-Suffering-and-the-Highest-Good (1).docx] Text
Schopenhauers-Christology-Suffering-and-the-Highest-Good (1).docx - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial.

Download (54kB)

Abstract

This paper seeks to illuminate Schopenhauer’s notion of the negation or denial of the will by investigating the figure of the saint within his philosophy. We argue that various discussions in Schopenhauer’s works of the possible role of Christ as exemplar reveals an underlying Christological understanding of self-denial as a model for the saint. The connection between Schopenhauer’s approach to Christ and Kant’s Christology in Religion within the Bounds of Mere Reason is also explored. We note how Schopenhauer builds upon on the Kantian demythologization of the Incarnated Christ in order to uncover the moral and existential spirit that underlies Christianity. In addition, we outline how a recognition of the symbolic importance of Christ for Schopenhauer suggests features of the denial of the will that have been overlooked in the literature, involving the intellectual transcendence of suffering through the cultivation of a state of emotional unresponsiveness. It is argued that this reflects a deeper connection between Schopenhauer’s philosophy and Christian thought than is often recognised.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: This is the accepted author manuscript (AAM). The final published version (version of record) is available online via Taylor and Francis at http://doi.org/10.1080/09672559.2020.1732444 - please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.
Uncontrolled Keywords: Schopenhauer, Kant, Christology, sainthood, negation of the will
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General)
Divisions: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of Social, Political and Global Studies
Depositing User: Symplectic
Date Deposited: 19 Feb 2020 13:44
Last Modified: 24 Aug 2021 01:30
URI: https://eprints.keele.ac.uk/id/eprint/7665

Actions (login required)

View Item
View Item