Schopenhauer's philosophy of man

This is intended as an anniversary article. It attempts to evaluate Schopen hauer's thought generally, with special regard to the problematics of man a nd freedom. First of all the article calls attention to the fact that Schop enhauer's work is a reaction to the tradition of rationalism and to the eve nt of the French Revolution. It anticipates modern trends of anti-intellect ualism. The article suggests that Schopenhauer's analyses of the problems o f the human body, and consciousness of time and death, are pioneering. Man and his freedom presents the main theme of Schopenhauer's philosophy, i n which anthropology is strictly based on the special metaphysics of the wi ll. Schopenhauer's philosophy of freedom is very complex and in many places contradictory. Above all, it attempts to show that human freedom is in rea lity pure illusion. The concept of human character plays the fundamental ro le in this negative view of freedom. The article is critical of the general rejection of Schopenhauer's work, bu t it also makes clear that there is considerable inner tension within that work.