8/12/2019 Parallels Between Schopenhauer and Wittgenstein

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Parallels between Schopenhauer and Wittgenstein

FRP On the Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient ReasonWWRThe World as Will and RepresentationT Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus

PI Philosophical Investigations

S.1 Even if it could be shown that all explanations can be reduced ultimately to thoseof science, and even if all the reductions were then to be carried out, the mysteryof the world as suchwould be as great at the end of the process as it had beenat the beginning. (FRP)

W.1 We feel that even when all possible scientific questions have been answered,the problems of life remain completely untouched. (T,6.52)

S.2 But there is a point where natural science, and indeed every branch of

knowledge, leaves things as they are, since not only its explanation of them, buteven the principle of this explanation, namely the principle of sufficient reason,does not go beyond this point. This is the real point where philosophy againtakes up things and considers them in accordance with its method, which isentirely different from the method of science. (WWR, i. 81)

W.2 Philosophy may in no way interfere with the actual use of language; it can in theend only describe it. It leaves everything as it is.(PI, 124)

S.3 For the man who studies to gain insight, books and studies are merely rungs ofthe ladder on which he climbs to the summit of knowledge. On the other hand,the many who study in order to fill their memories do not use the runs of theladder for climbing, but take them off and load themselves with them to takeaway, rejoicing at the increasing weight of the burden. They remain belowforever, since they are carrying what ought to have carried them. (WWR, ii. 80)

W.3 My propositions serve as elucidations in the following way: anyone whounderstands me eventually recognizes them as nonsensical, when he has usedthemas stepsto climb beyond them. (He must, so to speak, throw away theladder after he has climbed up it.) (T, 6.54)

S.4 The Philosopher always becomes such as the result of a perplexity from whichhe is trying to disengage himself. What distinguishes ungenuine from genuinephilosophers is that this perplexity comes to the latter from looking at the worlditself, to the former merely from a book, a philosophical system that lies in front ofthem. (WWR, i. 32)

W.4 What is your aim in philosophy? To show the fly the way out of the fly-bottle.(PI, 309)