The World as Will and Representation

The ultimate book of philosophy. Einstein was known to have
read this book with an attitude of sheer joy. The World as
Will and Representation, as suggested by the title, provides
a duel-natured paradigm of reality. Will and Representation.
Heavy influence stemming from eastern philosophy, in
particular Buddhism and the Bagavhad Gita, the world as
Representation is to suggest that the reality we inhabit
is—and only is—the way we perceive it: our Representation.
On the other hand, according to Schopenhauer, that there’s
some underlying force within living things which is motivated
to perpetuate itself. It manifests anywhere and everywhere.
It has many forms. Many faces. Many aspects. This is the world
as Will. Nearly every sentence from this massive tome screams
with truth. Any meta-physical theory nearly by definition fits
into Schopenhauer’s framework. Many of the subsequent German
philosophers saw themselves as extending his positions; yet
the theories of this masterpiece are entirely self-contained.
Complete on their own. These subsequent works, including but
not limited to Nietzsche and Meinlander, are but sick perversions
of the original work which was already perfect. The reading
is dense and difficult; but to the experienced reader it
shouldn’t be a problem. The work does not offer any practical
advice. It’s above that. Rather, the reader, if he is
perceptive, should be able to discern solutions to whatever
problem he is facing through the guidelines provided. Only
serious aspirants should attempt this work.