Discussion Questions for "The Indestructibility of Our Inner Nature," by Schopenhauer

Interpretive Questions

Does Schopenhauer contradict himself when he says (p.1) that lower animals don't have a "knowledge of death," but then says (p. 3) they and we also have a fear of death?

What does he mean (p.2) when he says that "according to natural consciousness" man fears death more than anything? What is "natural consciousness"?

Is our "whole being-in-itself" the "will to live" (p.4)?

How does knowledge conflict with will (p.5)?

Do you agree that "to mourn for the time when we shall no longer exist is just as absurd as it would be to mourn for the time when we did not as yet exist" (p.6)?

How about with the notion that death is terrible because it represents the death of the will? (p.7)

Is the moment of dying really "similar to that of waking from a heavy nightmare" (p. 9)?

Does the life force endure after death (pp. 9-12)?

If we saw "deeply enough," would we agree with nature and "regard life or death as indifferently as does she" (p. 13)?

Does nature (p.12) really consider the life and death of the individual to be of absolutely no consequence?

Schopenhauer writes (p.17), "In spite of time, death, and decay, we are still all together." What does he mean?

What of the man (p.18) who says of the game "I no longer like it."?

Who is "the lord of the worlds" (p.19)?

What is "the grand disillusionment"?

Why is the death of every good person "peaceful and gentle"? (p.20)


Evaluative Questions

Are all "religions and philosophical systems," as Schopenhauer writes (p. 1), aimed at consoling us concerning death?

Why does he state that "one" religion will enable man to look death calmly in the face, but then speaks of two different religions, Brahmanism (Hinduism) and Buddhism.

On p. 4 he writes, "If we knocked on the graves and asked the dead whether they would like to rise again, they would shake their heads." Agree or disagree?

Schopenhauer writes (p. 1), "Death is the real inspiring genius or Musagetes of philosophy, and for this reason Socrates defined philosophy as 'preparation for death'. Indeed, without death there would hardly have been any philosophizing." Is he really saying that death inspires philosophy, or that philosophy "inspires" death.