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Metaphysics
The philosopher Schopenhauer thinks that the “will” is a universal, relentless, striving sensation that underpins all reality and experience. To Schopenhauer, the will is metaphysical—meaning he thinks that it’s the basis of reality, and it gives shape to the world as we experience it.
Will Quotes in On the Genealogy of Morals
The On the Genealogy of Morals quotes below are all either spoken by Will or refer to Will. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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What Do Ascetic Ideals Mean? Quotes
He suddenly realized that more could be effected by the novelty of the Schopenhauerian […] notion of the sovereignty of music, as Schopenhauer understood it; music set apart from and distinguished from all the other arts, music as the independent art-in-itself, not like the other arts, affording images of the phenomenal world, but rather speaking the language of the will itself, straight out of the ‘abyss,’ as its most personal, original and direct manifestation.
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Nietzsche is discussing operatic composer Wagner’s turn to religious themes in Wagner’s later operas like Parsifal. Nietzsche thinks that Wagner is influenced by the philosopher Schopenhauer, and Nietzsche outlines Schopenhauer’s theory about music in this quote. Schopenhauer believes that the world is divided into to two domains. First, there is the “phenomenal” world—which is the world as people see it. Schopenhauer thinks that all reality and existence, however, are underscored by a universal, relentless, perpetual, exhausting striving that he calls the “Will.” The will is a metaphysical phenomenon: it can’t be seen, but it’s there, driving everything and giving shape Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error
Schopenhauer has described one effect of the beautiful—the calming of the will—but is this effect the usual one?
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Nietzsche is in the midst of discussing various philosophers’ views about the arts. Nietzsche has just dismissed Kant’s view that people should look at art in an emotionally distanced way. Now, Nietzsche looks at Schopenhauer’s view, which he similarly wants to dismiss. Schopenhauer believes that all reality is underpinned by a universal, relentless striving sensation that he calls the “will.” To Schopenhauer, the will is a metaphysical phenomenon, meaning it’s the basis of reality and it gives shape to the world as humans experience it. Schopenhauer is a pessimist, because he feels that this perpetual striving sensation fills life with Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam
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Will Term Timeline in On the Genealogy of Morals
The timeline below shows where the term Will appears in On the Genealogy of Morals. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Third Essay: What Do Ascetic Ideals Mean?
...thinks that music captures what he considers the essence of life: a relentless, exhausting, striving will that is the basis of all existence. Wagner thus starts to believe that music communicates...
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...art silences sexual interest and gives a person a break from desiring, striving, wanting, and willing. Nietzsche says that Schopenhauer was only 26 when he wrote this, so perhaps he was...
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