A. Schopenhauer on university philosophy: Pro et contra
F.F. Serebryakov
Kazan Federal University, Kazan, 420008 Russia
E-mail: fanserebr@yandex.ru
Received March 11, 2019
DOI: 10.26907/2541-7738.2019.5-6.183-197
For citation: Serebryakov F.F. A. Schopenhauer on university philosophy: Pro et contra. Uchenye Zapiski Kazanskogo Universiteta. Seriya Gumanitarnye Nauki, 2019, vol. 161, no. 5–6, pp. 183–197. doi: 10.26907/2541-7738.2019.5-6.183-197. (In Russian)
Abstract
The main ideas expressed by A. Schopenhauer and summarized in his work “On University Philosophy”, which still retains its topicality and remains relevant, were discussed. A modern outlook on the pros and cons of these ideas was provided. The philosopher believed that university philosophy can be useful and justified only if it “receives civil rights, and its banner is hoisted in front of the eyes of people”. The outcomes of systematic thinking about the logically and historically substantiated idea on the uselessness (impossibility) and even direct harmfulness (for “true philosophy”) of university philosophy, as it was first defined by A. Schopenhauer, were analyzed. The controversial situation was considered: on the one hand, the above-mentioned idea of A. Schopenhauer regarding university philosophy is irrelevant, because university philosophy has long become an integral part of the historical and educational development in universities; on the other hand, his arguments against university philosophy are still strong. Possible solutions are as follows: as A. Schopenhauer suggested by himself, university philosophy should focus on teaching “foreign”, rather than “domestic”, philosophy; the emphasis should be on teaching primarily the history of philosophy; the major goal of teaching of philosophy should be independent thinking development and support through logic and scientific methods; the emphasis on the history of philosophy, logic, and methodology of sciences should minimize the effect of factors that, in A. Schopenhauer's opinion, keep university philosophy from becoming “true”.
Keywords: university philosophy, true philosophy, teaching of philosophy, “pseudo-philosophy”, self-thinking, philosophy as profession, G.W.F. Hegel, A. Schopenhauer, worldview, pseudo-philosopher, state religion, history of philosophy
References
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