One of the greatest philosophers of nineteenth century, Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) believed that human action is determined not by reason by but by 'will' -- the blind and irrational desire for physical existence. This selection of his writing on religion, ethics, politics, women, suicide, books and many other themes is taken from his last work, 'Parerga and Paralipomena,' published in 1851. These pieces depict humanity as locked in a struggle beyond good and evil, and each individual absolutely free within a Godless world, in which art, morality and self-awareness are our only salvation. This innovative -- and pessimistic -- view has proved powerfully influential on philosophy and art, directly affecting the work of Nietzsche, Wittgenstein and Wagner among others. R.J. Hollingdale - Translator -- on the back cover of the book