The World as Will and Idea (Vol. 1 of 3)

audiobook

The World as Will and Idea (Vol. 1 of 3)

by Arthur Schopenhauer

EN·~19 hours·13 chapters

Chapters

13 total
1

The World As Will And Idea

0:19
2

Translators' Preface.

1:51
3

Preface To The First Edition.

15:34
4

Preface To The Second Edition.

28:03
5

First Book. The World As Idea.

0:01
6

First Aspect. The Idea Subordinated To The Principle Of Sufficient Reason: The Object Of Experience And Science.

4:05:11
7

Second Book. The World As Will.

0:02
8

First Aspect. The Objectification Of The Will.

3:14:34
9

Third Book. The World As Idea.

0:01
10

Second Aspect. The Idea Independent Of The Principle Of Sufficient Reason: The Platonic Idea: The Object Of Art.

4:27:37

Description

A monumental work of 19th‑century philosophy, this text opens with a careful translation that strives to preserve the original German phrasing while making the ideas accessible to English ears. It proposes that the world is composed of an irrational, blind force—will—paired with the way we mentally frame that force as ideas or representations. The opening sections lay out the need for patience, inviting readers to contemplate how this single, all‑encompassing thought touches metaphysics, ethics, and aesthetics.

The author warns that the book is not a quick read; its dense arguments unfold like a tapestry where each thread supports the whole. He suggests a two‑pass approach, first absorbing the structure, then revisiting with deeper reflection. Listeners will find that the work’s challenge lies not in plot twists but in the steady, rewarding effort of untangling a profound vision of reality that continues to influence philosophical discourse today.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~19 hours (1112K characters)

Release date

2011-12-27

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Arthur Schopenhauer

Arthur Schopenhauer

1788–1860

A fiercely independent thinker, he argued that human life is driven less by reason than by a restless force he called the will. His dark, lucid writing on suffering, art, and compassion went on to influence philosophers, psychologists, and writers long after his lifetime.

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