Understanding ourselves : character and self-knowledge in Conrad and Shopenhauer
That Conrad was familiar with Schopenhauerâs philosophy has been proposed by literary scholars and seconded, in passing, by philosophers. This has resulted in one-way studies of literary influence. This thesis is instead a two-way study in the philosophy of literature. It shows how Schopenhauerâs philosophy can illuminate Conradâs fiction and how the fiction can become an analytical tool for exploring the philosophy. There are two strands in Schopenhauerâs philosophy. One is uncompromisingly concerned with salvation and will-denial. The second focuses on self-knowledge and character, which leads to self-fulfilment and accommodation with the world. It is the latter strand, with character at its core, where the interests of the philosopher and creative writer coincide. My methodology is different from previous studies in that I propose Conradâs direct source for Schopenhauer was not The World as Will and Idea but his essays, which are directed more towards the worldly strand of his philosophy. I argue that the use by literary scholars of Schopenhauerâs magnum opus as Conradâs direct source has diverted them from his main area of interest in the philosophy, namely its approach to self-knowledge
Stinchcombe, Norman
B Philosophy (General) ; BD Speculative Philosophy
Understanding ourselves : character and self-knowledge in Conrad and Shopenhauer. That Conrad was familiar with Schopenhauerâs philosophy has been proposed by literary scholars and seconded, in passing, by philosophers. This has resulted in one-way studies of literary influence. This thesis is instead a two-way study in the philosophy of literature. It shows how Schopenhauerâs philosophy can illuminate Conradâs fiction and how the fiction can become an analytical tool for exploring the philosophy. There are two strands in Schopenhauerâs philosophy. One is uncompromisingly concerned with salvation and will-denial. The second focuses on self-knowledge and character, which leads to self-fulfilment and accommodation with the world. It is the latter strand, with character at its core, where the interests of the philosopher and creative writer coincide. My methodology is different from previous studies in that I propose Conradâs direct source for Schopenhauer was not The World as Will and Idea but his essays, which are directed more towards the worldly strand of his philosophy. I argue that the use by literary scholars of Schopenhauerâs magnum opus as Conradâs direct source has diverted them from his main area of interest in the philosophy, namely its approach to self-knowledge
character self_knowledge conrad conrad familiar schopenhauer philosophy propose literary_scholar second pass philosopher result one_way study literary influence instead two_way study philosophy literature show schopenhauer philosophy illuminate conrad fiction fiction become analytical_tool explore philosophy two_strand schopenhauer philosophy concerned salvation will denial second_focus self_knowledge character lead self fulfilment accommodation world latter strand character core interest philosopher creative writer coincide different previous_study propose conrad direct source schopenhauer world idea essay direct_towards worldly strand philosophy argue use literary_scholar schopenhauer opus conrad direct source divert main_area interest philosophy namely self_knowledge