Parerga and Paralipomena — II
Its thirty-one chapters concern: 1 Philosophy and Method; 2 Logic and Dialectic; 3 Intellect; 4 Thing-in-Itself and Appearance; 5 Pantheism; 6 Philosophy and Natural Science; 7 Colours; 8 Ethics; 9 Jurisprudence and Politics; 10 Indestructibility of Our True Nature by Death; 11 Vanity of Existence; 12 Suffering of the World; 13 Suicide; 14 Affirmation and Denial of the Will-to-Live; 15 Religion; 16 Sanskrit Literature; 17 Archaeology; 18 Mythology; 19 Beauty and Aesthetics; 20 Judgment, Criticism, Approval and Fame; 21 Learning and Scholars; 22 Thinking for Oneself; 23 Authorship and Style; 24 Reading and Books; 25 Language and Words; 26 Psychological Remarks; 27 Women; 28 Education; 29 Physiognomy; 30 Noise; 31 Similes, Parables and Fables.
Understanding the text
These thematic reflections supplement the system and are often excerpted into anthologies whose titles do not identify independent original books.
Key points
- 01
Fragmentary form
A remark needs its neighboring propositions and section before becoming an independent maxim.
- 02
Cultural criticism
The writing and reading chapters defend independent thought; the chapter on women exposes prejudices requiring criticism.
- 03
Suffering
Chapters on mortality, suicide and will distinguish responses to existence rather than simply celebrating despair.
How to read it
Use chapter and paragraph numbers, then check omissions when reading a modern selection.
Editions & sources
- Consult the reference 1en.wikipedia.orgnew tab
- Consult the reference 2de.wikisource.orgnew tab
- Consult the reference 3plato.stanford.edunew tab
Summaries and key points are original editorial interpretations. They accompany reading the work and do not replace an edition of the text. Editorial method ↗