Born: 22 February 1788 · Died: 21 September 1860 · Age at death: 72
How old was Arthur Schopenhauer when he died?
Arthur Schopenhauer died aged 72. He was born on 22 February 1788 and died on 21 September 1860.
German philosopher of pessimism whose The World as Will and Representation influenced Nietzsche, Wagner and Freud
Did you know?He was a keen amateur flautist and played the instrument almost every day for most of his life.
Quick facts
Date of birth22 February 1788
Date of death21 September 1860
Age at death72
Cause of deathRespiratory failure
NationalityGerman
BirthplaceGdańsk, Poland
Occupationuniversity teacher, philosopher, writer
Editor's Take:
Schopenhauer is often called the great pessimist of philosophy, but his ideas were richer and more influential than that label suggests. He argued that behind everything we see lies a blind, restless force he called 'will', which drives all living things to desire and struggle. Because desire can never be fully satisfied, he believed life involves much suffering, which could be eased through art, compassion and self-denial. He was one of the first major Western philosophers to engage seriously with Indian thought, especially Buddhism and the Upanishads. His ideas deeply influenced Nietzsche, Wagner, Freud and many writers.
Key Milestones
1813: Completes his doctoral thesis
1819: Publishes The World as Will and Representation
1833: Settles in Frankfurt
1851: Wins fame with Parerga and Paralipomena
Arthur Schopenhauer (22 February 1788 – 21 September 1860), also known as the “Philosopher of Pessimism”, was a German philosopher and writer.
Arthur Schopenhauer's birthday is February 22. He was born on February 22, 1788 in Gdańsk, Poland.
How old was Arthur Schopenhauer when he died?
Arthur Schopenhauer died on September 21, 1860, aged 72.
Who shares a birthday with Arthur Schopenhauer?
Famous people who share Arthur Schopenhauer's February 22 birthday include George Washington, Frédéric Chopin, Heinrich Hertz, Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell and Drew Barrymore.
