On the Methodical Mutilation of the German Language Practiced for Some Years
The Complete Works of Schopenhauer Book 13 · Continental Press
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About this ebook
"Schopenhauer is the last great Western philosopher who could still think metaphysically." Heidegger Published during a period of significant linguistic transformation in the Germanic intellectual sphere, the work represents a meticulously crafted critique of linguistic obfuscation, stylistic decay, and the progressive erosion of linguistic clarity that Schopenhauer observed in scholarly and administrative writing. In this scathing linguistic (but historically comedic) critique, Schopenhauer argues that contemporary German writers are systematically destroying the language through a misguided obsession with brevity and "letter-counting". He contends that writers, primarily journalists and commercial authors, are intentionally abbreviating words, eliminating nuanced linguistic distinctions, and adopting inappropriate French grammatical structures, all in an effort to save a syllable or two. This linguistic vandalism, in his view, not only reduces the precision and richness of German but also reflects a broader cultural decline, where writers mindlessly imitate each other's grammatical mistakes without regard for clarity, meaning, or linguistic tradition. The consequences of this linguistic degradation, Schopenhauer warns, are profound and potentially irreversible. By prioritizing superficial brevity over substantive communication, these writers are impoverishing the language, creating ambiguity, and eroding the ability to express complex thoughts with precision. He predicts that if this trend continues, by the year 1900, readers will struggle to comprehend classical German texts, as the language will have devolved into a crude, simplified jargon stripped of its nuance and grammatical sophistication. The text is ultimately a passionate defense of linguistic integrity, arguing that true economy in language comes not from eliminating syllables, but from thoughtful, precise expression.
About the author
Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) was a German philosopher whose pessimistic worldview and emphasis on the primacy of will over reason had a profound influence on later philosophical and literary thought. Born into a wealthy merchant family in Danzig, he developed his central philosophical system around the idea that reality has two aspects: the world as representation (our experience of the phenomenal world) and the world as will (the underlying, irrational force that drives all existence). In his magnum opus, The World as Will and Representation (1818), he argued that human life is essentially suffering, driven by an insatiable will-to-live that can never be permanently satisfied. Drawing heavily from Kant's transcendental idealism and Eastern philosophy, particularly Buddhism and Hinduism, Schopenhauer proposed that temporary escape from suffering could be achieved through aesthetic contemplation, and ultimately through the denial of the will to live. Though his ideas were initially overlooked during his lifetime, they later gained significant recognition, influencing major thinkers such as Nietzsche, Wagner and Freud, as well as writers including Tolstoy and Thomas Mann. This established Schopenhauer as one of the most important philosophers of the 19th century.
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