Schopenhauer’s Legacy: Nietzsche, Deussen, and Freud

In the scholarship specifically focused on Schopenhauer’s philosophy, this book stands out due to a breadth and depth of knowledge not found elsewhere in English or German texts. Its originality lies in its detailed portrayal of the lines of reception from Schopenhauer to Nietzsche, Deussen and Freud. First, it demonstrates convincingly how specific points in Nietzsche’s philosophy were determined directly by Schopenhauer’s work. Second, the book provides the richest available account of Deussen’s philosophical-religious project. Third, it argues meticulously for Schopenhauer’s significant influence on Freud’s thought. Freud did not reject completely or agree superficially with Schopenhauer, but endeavoured to carry forward and modify his predecessor’s ideas. The section on Freud is likely to have long-lasting influence within scholarly circles. Nietzsche scholars, intellectual historians with an interest in the nineteenth century, and Freud scholars will all find the book valuable. Additionally, specialists in Schopenhauer’s philosophy and those interested in the European reception of Indian thought and the history of religion in the nineteenth century will also read it with interest