#1174 David Bather Woods - Arthur Schopenhauer: Philosophy's Greatest Pessimist

Nov 10, 2025

Dr. David Bather Woods, an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Warwick and author of the new book on Arthur Schopenhauer, explores the depths of philosophical pessimism. He discusses Schopenhauer's thoughts on solitude, self-reliance, and the complexities of love and marriage. Woods highlights Schopenhauer's views on suicide, punishment, and the intricate dynamics of gender and sexuality. The conversation also touches on the relevance of Schopenhauer's insights today, emphasizing compassion amidst life's inherent suffering.

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ANECDOTE

Gateway Philosopher Moment

David Bather Woods discovered Schopenhauer as a teenager through an essay on free will that transformed his thinking.
He kept returning to Schopenhauer through his dissertation, PhD and ongoing research.

ANECDOTE

Pandemic Framing Of The Book

Woods began the book during the COVID pandemic and noticed Schopenhauer had also lived through cholera.
That parallel framed Schopenhauer's midlife low and made the topic resonant for modern readers.

INSIGHT

Solitude As Intellectual Virtue

Schopenhauer defended solitude as a cognitive virtue enabling independent thought and authentic knowledge.
He treats knowledge quality as dependent on the thinker’s solitary process, not just correct facts.

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Dr. David Bather Woods is an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Warwick. His research focuses on the 19th century German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, especially his philosophical pessimism and his moral and political philosophy. His new book is Arthur Schopenhauer: The Life and Thought of Philosophy's Greatest Pessimist.

In this episode, we focus on Arthur Schopenhauer. We first discuss what got Dr. Bather Woods interested in Schopenhauer and his philosophy. We then explore the topics of solitude and self-reliance, punishment, suicide, madness, marriage, love, women, gender, sexuality, ethics, fame, politics, and death. Finally, we discuss whether Schopenhauer’s philosophy was influenced by his psychology, as well as his legacy.

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A SPECIAL THANKS TO MY PRODUCERS, YZAR WEHBE, JIM FRANK, ŁUKASZ STAFINIAK, TOM VANEGDOM, BERNARD HUGUENEY, CURTIS DIXON, BENEDIKT MUELLER, THOMAS TRUMBLE, KATHRINE AND PATRICK TOBIN, JONCARLO MONTENEGRO, NICK GOLDEN, CHRISTINE GLASS, IGOR NIKIFOROVSKI, PER KRAULIS, AND JOSHUA WOOD!

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