Idea of freedom in Hegel and Schopenhauer

Abstract

The fact that Schopenhauer is known in history of philosophy as one of the fiercest Hegel's opponents naturally suggests that the systems of the two philosophers are sharply distinct or even opposed to one another. In this paper, we will try to show that this is not the case, and that the systems have significant structural similarities. As we will show, the similiraties between Hegel's and Schopenhauer's philosophical system, often more than just analogies, at least partly stem from the virtually identical manner they criticize Kant's philosophy. However, there are also some important differences between philosophical ideas of these thinkers. One of the questions regarding which their opinions differ is the question of freedom. The way Schopenhauer understood freedom is diametrally opposed to the way Hegel understood it. Without pretences to answer the question which of these two conceptions of freedom is tout court more plausible, we will consider which of these is more in accordance with the philosophical system it is a part of.