On Schopenhauer's Ethics in View of his Conception of Compassion

Abstract

<p>This paper is first a criticism of Schopenhauer's ethics (specifically of his explanation of compassion), and secondly, an attempt to remove the inadequacies which were found in his theory by substituting an alternate explanation for compassion. I begin by pointing out what Schopenhauer's idea of an ethical theory is, i.e., what he thins an ethical theory is supposed to achieve. THen, by criticizing various aspects of his theory I indicate that his own theory has failed to achieve this ideal. Finally, I attempt to alter Schopenhauer's theory in such a way that its shortcomings are removed, and it comes closer to doing what Schopenhauer meant it to do.</p>