The Basis of Morality

Name: The Basis of Morality
Author: Arthur Schopenhauer

The Basis of Morality is a philosophy book written by Arthur Schopenhauer and originally published in 1840.

Written in response to a question posed by the Royal Danish Society of Sciences in 1837, Schopenhauer philosophizes on the nature of morality and is a good example of his ethical thinking.

Schopenhauer critically examines the foundations of morality from a perspective far removed from the theories of his time, challenging Kantian ethics and the optimism of the Enlightenment.

For Schopenhauer, true morality arises from compassion and empathy for the suffering of others, not from the dictates of reason. Truly moral actions are motivated by a sense of compassion for other living beings and a rejection of selfish motives.

This reflection on the human condition, far ahead of its time, greatly influenced not only later philosophers, but also other guilds such as artists and writers.

"Why do philosophers differ so widely as to the first principles of Morals, but agree respecting the conclusions and duties which they deduce from those principles?"

Why Read The Basis of Morality in 2026?

Why be good? Schopenhauer argues that compassion, not calculation, sits at the root of ethics. Agree or not, the book clarifies motives and cuts through moral fog with brisk, testable claims.

Today's connection

Use it to sharpen seminars and debates: define terms, separate pity from sentimentality, and ask what a principle produces in action. A compact counterpoint to duty-based systems.