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THE
PHILOSOPHY OF
THE UNCONSCIOUS (Volume III)
by Eduard
von HARTMANN
THIS VOLUME :
In the final volume Hartmann's
focus is, as in the second volume, upon the "Metaphysics
of the Unconscious" (as opposed to the physical and the
mental aspects, which he explored at the greatest length in Vol.I).
For those who wish to appreciate Hartmann's pessimistic vision
of the cosmos, this is the volume to read, for it is here that
he sets forth his argument in favour of the annihilation of all
existence, an end to all things. He shows what other directions
might take the dark vision of his direct predecessor Arthur Schopenhauer,
who himself suggested 'Nirvana' as the only solution. It is the
most renowned volume of the work, infamous, in some ways, precisely
because of the several stage argument he sets out in support
of the preferred mass suicide of the human racem as opposed to
the continuation of life on earth. In the first stage of this
polemic, he examines what pleasures life has to offer in this
world, while in the second stage of this argu- ment he looks
at the case of those who seek a Paradise beyond as opposed to
one here on earth. Finally, in the last stage of this discussion,
he examines the belief in the greatness of the future. His conclusion
is, as already mentioned, on the negative side, in that he opts
for the mass self-effacement of all life on this planet. In addition
to this, the present volume is also of great value in that he
summarizes his conclusions from the rest of the preceding stages,
sections and chapters, as well as taking a brief retro- spective
view of the systems of other relevant philosophers.
FEATURES:
This volume includes Hartmann's
Appendix to the work, entitled "The Physiology
of the Nerve Centres", which he added later and considered
to be essential to a full understanding of his viewpoint - though
for those only interested in his general argument, it is in fact
not obligatory reading. Today, the interest that lies in this
additional essay is in the general view that it gives of the
science of physiology as concerns the nerve centres in Hartmann's
day.
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