최고 Vespa 팟캐스트 (2025)

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John Vespasian

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Schopenhauer on determinism 6:56

7일 전6:56

6:56

It’s not correct to say that Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) embraced a form of metaphysical determinism. His philosophy rests on the assumption that the will (which I translate as “life force”) influences all events, but there is a substantial distance between influencing and determining. The difference between influence and determinism has large …

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John Vespasian

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Individuality and determinism in Schopenhauer 6:30

7일 전6:30

6:30

You do not need to search long to find philosophers that rate Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) as the ultimate advocate of determinism. Nonetheless, they are wrong; their categorization of Schopenhauer as deterministic is superficial and overlooks a large number of key aspects in Schopenhauer’s philosophy. When analysing a philosopher, one must plac…

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John Vespasian

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Schopenhauer and the philosophy of time 7:00

7일 전7:00

7:00

The reflections of Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) are to be found in his work “The world as will and representation.” I consider equally interesting the observations contained in his “Aphorisms on the art of living,” published in 1851. In contrast to Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831), Schopenhauer is not a philosopher of history. He didn’t develop an al…

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John Vespasian

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Schopenhauer and the philosophy of history 5:37

7일 전5:37

5:37

The philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) places history on a secondary plane. Schopenhauer didn’t give history a central role because he did not consider that humanity should achieve any goal beyond the happiness of the individual. Schopenhauer believed that an eternal life force (“the will”) drives all creatures towards self-preservation …

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John Vespasian

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Michel de Montaigne on self-discovery and self-expression 5:55

14일 전5:55

5:55

Like many other authors, Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) regarded writing as a process of self-discovery; he talked about self-discovery through self-expression. He meant that we get to know ourselves better when we outline our ideas in writing, or when we convey our thoughts to other people. However, Montaigne knew that introspection is difficult …

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John Vespasian

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Michel de Montaigne on the limits to self-discovery and self-expression 6:26

14일 전6:26

6:26

Social constraints are not a new phenomenon in history. In one way or another, they have existed as long as social structures. They reflect the displeasure of the people who hold the dominant opinions, and their attempts to prevent criticism and irreverent comments. Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) wrote essays entailing self-discovery and self-expr…

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John Vespasian

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Self-discipline and Michel de Montaigne’s self-expression 6:40

14일 전6:40

6:40

Erroneously, philosophers often attribute achievements and heroism to the ability to withstand pressure, social or physical, in extreme situations. Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) came up with a more realistic view. Instead of looking at extreme situations in isolation, he saw them as part of a normal process, where things evolve either in one dire…

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John Vespasian

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Michel de Montaigne and the true path to self-discovery 5:59

16일 전5:59

5:59

We all know individuals who lack a sense of direction. They drift from day to day because they lack long-term objectives. I find it no surprise then that their decisions are inconsistent and undermine each other. Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) had observed exactly the same phenomenon in his contemporaries. Few of them had set up goals for themselv…

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John Vespasian

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Michel de Montaigne and intellectual independence 5:38

16일 전5:38

5:38

An independent spirit and strong nerves are the prerequisites of intellectual independence. Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) possessed those qualities, but had not inherited them. It would take him three decades of trial and error to acquire them. Nowadays, intellectual independence is as rare as it was in Montaigne’s lifetime, that is, in sixteenth…

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John Vespasian

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Michel de Montaigne and the advantages of intellectual independence 6:41

16일 전6:41

6:41

While the risks of intellectual interdependence are obvious, the advantages are rarely mentioned. Widespread silence about the advantages explains why many people dismiss intellectual independence as unworkable or not affordable. Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) played a pivotal role in affirming intellectual independence as advantageous, first of a…

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John Vespasian

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Michel de Montaigne’s intellectual independence and peace of mind 6:05

16일 전6:05

6:05

The powerful connection between intellectual independence and peace of mind is seldom mentioned. I view the former as a prerequisite of the latter. Peace of mind requires a fair, realistic assessment of people and events. In the absence of intellectual independence, such an assessment cannot be performed. Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) proved the …

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John Vespasian

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Critique of Schopenhauer’s philosophy of history 7:07

20일 전7:07

7:07

Posterity showed vast disagreements with the philosophy of history put forward by Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860). His individualist view of society came to be rejected by Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) in the first place. Schopenhauer had argued that the will (“life force”) exerts a large influence on individual and society choices, but not to th…

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John Vespasian

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Schopenhauer’s pessimism: what it is and what it’s not 7:38

20일 전7:38

7:38

According to most philosophy books, Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) was profoundly pessimistic. However, when you look into the details of his life and his works, you will see that the truth goes in the opposite direction. Historians tell us that Schopenhauer was confronted with a series of personal tragedies that rendered him pessimistic, but is t…

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John Vespasian

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Exaggeration and reality in Schopenhauer's pessimism 6:48

20일 전6:48

6:48

In history, few authors have been categorized as pessimistic as Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860). Critics reproach him for his observation that most pleasures fail to provide us long-term fulfilment, but is Schopenhauer’s observation inaccurate? When Schopenhauer said that worldly achievements should be regarded as distractions from long-term failur…

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John Vespasian

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Literary creativity in Michel de Montaigne’s essays 6:13

28일 전6:13

6:13

I define creativity as the ability to do great things with few resources. It is a combination of ingenuity, resourcefulness and focus; note that this definition includes a useful output as a key requirement. Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) is the archetype of long-term literary creativity; while his ingenuity and resourcefulness earned him a promin…

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John Vespasian

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The key to Michel de Montaigne’s literary creativity 5:48

28일 전5:48

5:48

In contrast to writers in our century, Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) never claimed to be extraordinarily creative. Even during his last years, when it was obvious that he had produced a remarkable output, his attitude remained modest. Historians have speculated whether Montaigne’s talent was innate or acquired, original or the result of imitation…

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John Vespasian

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Michel de Montaigne's literary style 7:07

28일 전7:07

7:07

The literary style of Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) teaches us key lessons in the field of self-improvement. I mean lessons of universal validity that anyone can put into practice right now. Literary critics have analysed Montaigne’s works from the standpoint of tone, subjects, and structure. I am however going to concentrate on Montaigne’s philo…

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John Vespasian

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Philosophical lessons from Michel de Montaigne’s literary style 6:45

28일 전6:45

6:45

Style is the opposite of randomness and disharmony. When we say of a person or item that “they have style,” we mean that they stand apart; that they possess characteristics making them recognisable at first sight. Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) turned his philosophical convictions into a literary style, one that stands apart because of its goals, …

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John Vespasian

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Montaigne’s literary techniques and contributions 7:01

28일 전7:01

7:01

Why should we study Montaigne’s literary techniques? What benefits can we draw from his contributions? I see two crucial reasons for studying the literary techniques and contributions from Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592). In the first instance, they can enable us to think faster in the face of challenges. Secondly, they can help us make better deci…

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John Vespasian

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Human flourishing and Schopenhauer’s pessimism 5:51

약 1년 전5:51

5:51

Literary critics state that Albert Camus (1913-1960) wrote his novel “The Stranger” under the influence of Schopenhauer (1788-1860), but they are completely wrong. Camus created a protagonist, named Meursault, who displays indifference and defeatism that do not exist in Schopenhauer’s work. Worse still, Camus did not provide any useful advice to hi…

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John Vespasian

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The myth of Schopenhauer’s pessimism 7:01

약 1년 전7:01

7:01

In a discussion about pessimism in Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860), we must begin by defining our terms. Before you engage any philosophical discussion, you should ask people to define their terms. It’s a waste of time to argue for or against an idea, if words are being misinterpreted. Misunderstandings are a widespread ground for litigation. I reg…

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John Vespasian

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Schopenhauer and the idea of justice 5:34

약 1년 전5:34

5:34

In the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860), we find a unique combination of realism and empathy. His books show that Schopenhauer was fully conscious of the advantages of industrial societies. They offer individuals far more chances than agrarian, immobile, medieval structures. At the same time, Schopenhauer was aware that perfection cann…

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John Vespasian

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Analysis of Schopenhauer’s idea of justice 6:18

약 1년 전6:18

6:18

The genius of Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) also shows in his unique idea of justice. On the one hand, he regarded it as highly desirable in society. Civilisation cannot exist without a consistent protection of life, liberty and property. On the other hand, Schopenhauer acknowledged that human life inevitably entails injustice; sometimes injustic…

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John Vespasian

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Problem solving and Michel de Montaigne’s literary techniques 6:11

약 1년 전6:11

6:11

In all areas of human endeavour, the advantages of speed should not be underestimated. For builders, it makes a world of difference whether the structure of an edifice can be completed before the winter comes. For growers, it is crucial that all seeds have been planted before the warm season arrives. Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) applied the prin…

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John Vespasian

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The rationale for Michel de Montaigne’s literary techniques 5:28

약 1년 전5:28

5:28

It is easier to understand someone’s actions if we know his motivation. The same applies to understanding his philosophy and literary style, especially when it incorporates innovations, controversy, or unorthodox features. Historians have written extensively about the literary style of Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592), but their conclusions are rath…

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John Vespasian

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Literary analysis of Michel de Montaigne’s essays 6:20

약 1년 전6:20

6:20

In his essays, Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) pursued a single goal. He just wanted to figure out how to live each day in the best possible manner. The question underlying his works is always the same: What should I do now? Montaigne’s literary output becomes easily comprehensible if we keep in mind its purpose. Otherwise, it seems chaotic and arb…

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John Vespasian

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The role of purpose in the literary analysis of Montaigne’s essays 6:03

약 1년 전6:03

6:03

Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) embodies the opposite of naivety because his observations revolve around human nature. In every situation, he always wanted to grasp the motivation of the persons involved. Before becoming a writer, Montaigne had practised law for a decade in Bordeaux. He had many times found himself in the middle of family and busin…

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John Vespasian

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Michel de Montaigne’s literary legacy 6:25

약 1년 전6:25

6:25

Three words suffice me to summarise the literary legacy of Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592): Think for yourself. In each of his essays, he calls for self-reliance, critical thinking, open-mindedness, and personal initiative. Unfortunately, historians have given excessive weight to the stylistic aspects of Montaigne’s work, and overlooked his ideas a…

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John Vespasian

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Key elements in Michel de Montaigne’s literary legacy 5:45

약 1년 전5:45

5:45

The essay titled “Of the Useful and the Honourable” offers a compelling illustration of the literary legacy left by Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592). The essay begins without a clear goal, but quickly adopts a determinedly ethical position, and piles up evidence to support it. I view this essay as a compelling illustration of Montaigne’s work becaus…

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John Vespasian

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Schopenhauer and freedom 6:51

약 1년 전6:51

6:51

The idea of freedom in Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) is linked to his philosophy of the will. He outlined his concept of the will in his major works “About the fourfold root of the principle of sufficient reason” (1808) and “The world as will and representation” (1818). According to Schopenhauer, the will (which I translate as “life force”) is th…

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John Vespasian

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Critique of Schopenhauer’s ideas on freedom 6:54

약 1년 전6:54

6:54

Despite his sound reasoning and accurate writing, Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) didn’t succeed in making his ideas on freedom popular. In particular, his theory of the will wasn’t taken seriously by other philosophers and fell into oblivion at the beginning of the twentieth century. According to Schopenhauer, civilised society should grant legal …

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John Vespasian

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Schopenhauer’s views on the nature of existence 5:44

약 1년 전5:44

5:44

The concept of the will (which I translate as “life force” or “primal energy”) plays the key role in the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860). He argued that a blind, irrational, overwhelming force drives all creatures to reproduce, sustain their own lives, and improves their situation. According to Schopenhauer, the will is exerting relen…

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John Vespasian

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Impact of Schopenhauer’s views on the nature of existence 5:56

약 1년 전5:56

5:56

The stunning accuracy of the intuitions and insights gained by Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) becomes apparent when we compare him with other philosophers. Many have attacked Schopenhauer’s views on the nature of existence but the attacks have only served to reinforce his positions. You cannot dismiss Schopenhauer by saying that he was too pessimi…

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John Vespasian

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Aristotle’s theory of causality 12:15

약 1년 전12:15

12:15

Aristotle (384-322 BC) is not only the three most influential philosophers in history, but the creator of brand-new mentality. The other two key philosophers, Plato and Kant, cannot claim the same honour. Through keen observation and logic, Aristotle arrived at the conclusion that everything in the natural world has a purpose and a cause. When I sa…

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John Vespasian

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Aristotle’s philosophy of metaphysics 12:45

약 1년 전12:45

12:45

The first thing to say about Aristotle’s metaphysics is that its very name has become misleading. The original Ancient Greek text is using the term “metaphysics” with the meaning “principles of physics” or “principles of reality.” In Aristotle’s writings, “metaphysics” has nothing to do with the supernatural, the occult, or hidden forces of nature.…

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John Vespasian

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The hidden message in Michel de Montaigne’s literary legacy 6:24

약 1년 전6:24

6:24

Learning to fish is more valuable than getting a free meal, because the former can feed us for a lifetime. Methods are far more valuable than objects, because objects are finite. Methods are not limited in time. We can simply employ them to arrive at our goals once and again. The essays by Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) include an important hidden…

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John Vespasian

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Michel de Montaigne’s biography (5 of 5): joy until the last minute 5:50

약 1년 전5:50

5:50

Some people are so afraid of dying that they waste hundreds of hours trying to protect themselves against the normal risks of life. They fear catching the flu, falling from their bicycle, or eating too much meat; as a result, they restrain their lifestyle in the vain hope of living a little bit longer. Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592), after a long …

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John Vespasian

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Michel de Montaigne’s biography (4 of 5): the pinnacle years 5:45

약 1년 전5:45

5:45

When things are falling apart and everything seems lost, we might just as well enjoy ourselves. Once we realise that our days are counted, there is little reason for stress. Every day that is left can deliver exhilaration and happiness On his fifty-second birthday, Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) must have come to that conclusion. He had already ex…

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John Vespasian

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Michel de Montaigne’s biography (3 of 5): dealing with chronic illness 6:08

약 1년 전6:08

6:08

People always show their true colours in times of crisis. We can then recognise our true friends, true priorities, and the best and worst parts of our own character. Hardship makes the hero come forth, while the cowards sink into misery. Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) faced the hardest period in his life precisely when he was expecting to enjoy th…

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John Vespasian

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Michel de Montaigne’s biography (2 of 5): his momentous decision 6:00

약 1년 전6:00

6:00

The most intriguing aspect in the biography of Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) is his decision, when he was in his late thirties, to abandon a promising career in law and retire to live in the countryside. I have an explanation for Montaigne’s unusual decision: His daily work at the Bordeaux Parliament had made him acutely aware of the social decay…

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John Vespasian

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Michel de Montaigne’s biography (1 of 5): his early years 6:14

약 1년 전6:14

6:14

I consider the French essayist Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) one of the most underrated philosophers in history. He is not on the same level as Aristotle, Plato and Socrates, but when it comes to personal development, he is one of the best. Montaigne was born in southern France within a family that belonged to the lower aristocracy. His father ha…

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John Vespasian

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Michel de Montaigne’s biography: literary hints and clues 6:17

약 1년 전6:17

6:17

When authors write, they cannot avoid revealing their views and personal history, their traumas and pressing concerns. Consciously or unconsciously, they are giving hints and clues about their own life. Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) and his works prove this theory correct. In his essays, Montaigne addressed a wide array of subjects, but could not…

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John Vespasian

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Examples of Schopenhauer’s views on the nature of existence 8:11

약 1년 전8:11

8:11

I’m going to point to several examples to illustrate the views of Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) on the nature of human existence. The examples are drawn from famous literary works depicting challenging situations that put Schopenhauer’s advice to the test. Before starting with the examples, let me summarise in four paragraphs Schopenhauer’s views…

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John Vespasian

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Schopenhauer and Kant, a comparison 6:22

약 1년 전6:22

6:22

Despite their closeness in time, there are huge differences in intent and content between the ideas of Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) and those of Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860). Kant aimed at reconciling empiricism and rationalism, but with little success. The only result of his efforts is to decouple philosophy and science from ethics, leaving the ar…

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John Vespasian

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Schopenhauer and the unconscious 6:12

약 1년 전6:12

6:12

The philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) on the unconscious has exerted a vast influence on later thinkers such as Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Alfred Adler, or Wilhelm Reich. In his work “The world as will and representation” (1818), Schopenhauer outlined his philosophy of the unconscious. Schopenhauer defined the will as the blind, irration…

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John Vespasian

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Impact of Schopenhauer’s views on the unconscious 6:21

약 1년 전6:21

6:21

Few historians acknowledge the large influence of Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) on psychology, but Schopenhauer’s theory of the will (“life force”) as irrational driver of human psychology had set the background for Freud’s concept of a subconscious. Nowadays, it’s widely accepted that wild impulses often prompt us to seek short-term pleasures at…

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John Vespasian

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Critique of Schopenhauer’s views on the unconscious 7:34

약 1년 전7:34

7:34

Specifically in the works of Carl Rogers, Wilhelm Reich and William James, the twentieth century brought strong criticism of the views on the unconscious presented by Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860). Their definitions of the unconscious are based on the ideas developed by Schopenhauer, but only after having narrowed them down to a point where they …

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John Vespasian

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Schopenhauer and the nature of truth 6:59

약 1년 전6:59

6:59

Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) devoted his whole life to the pursuit of truth. He acknowledged that truth is sometimes unpleasant and harsh, but humans are better off when they face problems and take action to solve them. In his major work “The World as Will and Representation,” (1818), Schopenhauer categorised the will (“life force”) as the main …

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John Vespasian

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Examples of Schopenhauer’s views on the nature of truth 5:51

약 1년 전5:51

5:51

Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) gave us valuable insights on human behaviour. Let us take a look at historical examples of Schopenhauer’s views on the nature of truth. First of all, Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592), a French philosopher, as a worthy predecessor of Schopenhauer. Like Schopenhauer, Montaigne remained outside academic circles, but wrot…

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John Vespasian

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Michel de Montaigne’s biography: tradition versus change 5:58

약 1년 전5:58

5:58

John Vespasian explains that Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) was one of the most realistic philosophers in history. He was remarkably talented at analysing problems, reviewing possible solutions, discarding the unworkable, and selecting the most promising amongst the rest. Let me underline the step “discarding the unworkable.” It is something that …

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