Schopenhauer’s Cynical View of Romantic Love.
Arthur Schopenhauer clearly expresses his belief to be that love is nothing more than the will to survive-that romantic passion is a trick we allow ourselves to fall into for a greater good. By choosing love, we are choosing reproduction, survival and ensuring the human race continues on through our offspring. Schopenhauer's cynicism towards romantic love is most definitely predominant in his writings though the relevance of love in life is not argued, yet rather encouraged in his writings since without love, human life would cease to exist as we know it. Nevertheless, the opinion and theory expressed by Schopenhauer seems to be an overall contempt and resistance to the mystical alluring notions of love one may have. There have been several attempts by several philosophers, writers and academics to define love objectively, on a factual basis. Unfortunately, as it cannot be proven or measured this attempt can only made subjectively, though one can gather several perspectives and opinions in order to do so.
Even though Schopenhauer argues that romantic love and passion is of an illusionary nature, he states that there is in fact “one right person for each of us”, (Schopenhauer pg. 75) one true mate for us that we are the most compatible with. This may be found as a source of positivity in his writings, though he continues on to state that this romantic relationship with said person would in fact be one of illusion and “delusive ecstasy.” (Schopenhauer, pg. 77) He continues on to say that it is this illusion which propels us into reproduction, by which we ensure and choose the next generation, by insisting certain genes are carried forward, while others would hopefully be left behind. In my personal opinion, when Schopenhauer states that the offspring gain their will and character from their father, and the intellect from its mother, he is indicating that intellect is needed in choosing a mate. Since love is for no other reason but for survival of our
Even though Schopenhauer argues that romantic love and passion is of an illusionary nature, he states that there is in fact “one right person for each of us”, (Schopenhauer pg. 75) one true mate for us that we are the most compatible with. This may be found as a source of positivity in his writings, though he continues on to state that this romantic relationship with said person would in fact be one of illusion and “delusive ecstasy.” (Schopenhauer, pg. 77) He continues on to say that it is this illusion which propels us into reproduction, by which we ensure and choose the next generation, by insisting certain genes are carried forward, while others would hopefully be left behind. In my personal opinion, when Schopenhauer states that the offspring gain their will and character from their father, and the intellect from its mother, he is indicating that intellect is needed in choosing a mate. Since love is for no other reason but for survival of our