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John Vespasian

JOHN VESPASIAN is the author of sixteen books, including “When everything fails, try this” (2009), “Rationality is the way to happiness” (2009), “The philosophy of builders” (2010), “The 10 principles of rational living” (2012), “Rational living, rational working” (2013), “Consistency: The key to permanent stress relief” (2014), “On becoming unbreakable” (2015), “Thriving in difficult times” (2016), “Causality: Aristotle’s life and ideas” (2024), “Foresight: Schopenhauer’s life and ideas” (2024),

science social sciences

All Episodes

7:07

Errors in Schopenhauer’s views on the problem of evil

John Vespasian ·

2025/02/26

Did Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) provide a waterproof answer to problem of evil? John Vespasian explains that Schopenhauer had based his analysis of evil on his theory of the will. He built his logic on the assumption that the will (a wild, irrational, cosmic force) can take control of humans, and drive them to engage in exploitation, victimisation, and abuses. Aristotle (384-322 BC) knew much better than that. He had grasped perfectly that morality applies only to humans because only humans are

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5:50

Schopenhauer’s views on intellectual pursuits

John Vespasian ·

2025/02/26

Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) devoted his whole life to intellectual pursuits. In particular, he gave extensive thought to their contribution to happiness. John Vespasian explains that intellectual pursuits are commendable when they help fight the negative influence of the will. I mean intellectual pursuits, studies and debates that render individuals self-aware, prudent, and self-reliant. Those intellectual pursuits vastly contribute to increasing happiness. In contrast, Schopenhauer discouraged

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6:06

Analysis of Schopenhauer’s views on intellectual...

John Vespasian ·

2025/02/26

Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) regarded intellectual and cultural pursuits as potentially detrimental; he recommended to steer away from pursuits that generate unworkable desires and ambitions. Before investing oneself in those, one should figure out the consequences. John Vespasian explains that Aristotle (384-322 BC) must have turned in his grave when learning about Schopenhauer’s views on intellectual pursuits. For Aristotle, it was highly desirable to devote oneself to all sorts of intellectual

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5:47

Origin of Schopenhauer’s views on intellectual pursuits

John Vespasian ·

2025/02/26

For what concerns intellectual and cultural pursuits, are the views of Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) fully original or do they rely on prior philosophers? They are original because they are adding unique, innovative elements to the insights of prior thinkers. John Vespasian explains that, if we want to find philosophers that somewhat anticipate Schopenhauer in this respect, we need to go back twenty-two centuries. I am referring to Ancient Stoic philosophers such as Zeno of Citium (334-262 BC). To

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6:54

Schopenhauer’s views on the relationship between art...

John Vespasian ·

2025/02/26

The relationship between art and morality plays a secondary role in the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860). In this area, Schopenhauer failed to establish consistent principles and incurred contradictions. Nevertheless, it teaches us lessons that are worth examining. John Vespasian explains that, for Schopenhauer, artistic experiences (he was in particular referring to playing music and listening to music) help people escape their pressing problems. When enjoying music, theatre,

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6:59

Schopenhauer’s views on wisdom

John Vespasian ·

2025/02/26

For Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860), wisdom is an effect from philosophy. John Vespasian explains that, according to Schopenhauer, wisdom is a practical outcome from philosophical study, especially from the study of the will (“life force”), which he regarded as the driving force of living creatures. In his book “The world as will and representation” (1818), Schopenhauer outlined his theory of the will and analysed its implications. The more you study the will, the higher your self-awareness and

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6:41

Schopenhauer and the meaning of life

John Vespasian ·

2025/02/26

Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) built his philosophy step by step, starting with a central concept (the theory of the will), and adding layers of explanations. His physics, epistemology, logic and morality revolve around the theory of the will, and so do his views on the meaning of life. John Vespasian explains that, according to Schopenhauer, the will (“life force”) drives all living creatures to secure their survival and reproduction; at the same time, the will prompts them seek pleasure but

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7:57

Analysis of Schopenhauer’s views on the meaning of life

John Vespasian ·

2025/02/26

Was Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) a subjective thinker? Did he reject an objective philosophy, where the concepts of good and bad are universally defined? What’s the difference between Schopenhauer and subjective thinkers? John Vespasian explains that Schopenhauer wasn’t a subjective thinker. His book “The world as will and representation” (1818) outlines the theory of the will, which sustains that all living entities are driven by a life force (“the will”) to ensure their survival and

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8:11

Examples of Aristotle’s theory of rhetoric and...

John Vespasian ·

2025/02/26

History provides compelling illustrations of the rhetoric and persuasion techniques identified by Aristotle (384-322 BC) in his work “Rhetoric.” John Vespasian explains that Demosthenes (384-322 BC), who was born in the same year as Aristotle and died roughly at the same age as Aristotle, gave inspiration for the Aristotelian principles of rhetoric. Demosthenes made repeated speeches in Athens, explaining the threats arising from King Philip II of Macedonia. Those speeches had the goal of convincing

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5:34

Aristotle’s views on knowledge and learning

John Vespasian ·

2025/02/26

In contrast to his predecessors, Aristotle (384-322 BC) built his theory of knowledge on empiricism. The main principle of empiricism is that knowledge can only be gained from sensory experience before it can be assessed and refined. John Vespasian explains that Aristotle taught that humans start at birth with a blank mind (a blank slate) and will acquire knowledge through interactions with the external world. The Aristotelian syllogism is a deductive argument that is made of a major premise

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6:59

Impact of Aristotle's views on knowledge and learning

John Vespasian ·

2025/02/26

Despite its innovative, accurate character, philosophers first rejected the philosophy developed by Aristotle (384-322 BC) on knowledge and learning. His empiricism fell into disregard, and his detailed causal analysis (material cause, formal cause, efficient cause, and final cause) was seldom taught to students. John Vespasian explains how Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) was a fierce contender of Aristotle’s philosophy, and exerted great influence in medieval Europe. Bernard wasn’t alone in the

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5:31

Schopenhauer’s influence on literature

John Vespasian ·

2025/02/26

Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) never wrote any novels, but his ideas have influenced important authors and shaped their novels. John Vespasian explains that Schopenhauer’s influence on literature has taken place more in the novels’ atmosphere than in their explicit philosophy. He also comments on Schopenhauer's influence on Franz Kafka and other major authors. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/schopenhauers-influence-on-literature/

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6:47

Aristotle’s views on education

John Vespasian ·

2025/02/26

Aristotle (384-322 BC) outlined his philosophy of education primarily in his works “Eudemian Ethics” and “Nicomachean Ethics.” John Vespasian explains that the Aristotelian formula for education revolves around the concept of virtue, that is, that the purpose of education is to equip students with physical, moral and intellectual habits enabling them to achieve “eudaimonia.” How should we translate the Greek term “eudaimonia” that appears in Aristotle’s works? Medieval translators had mostly

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5:40

Opponents to Aristotle’s views on education

John Vespasian ·

2025/02/26

After Aristotle’s death in 322 BC, it did not take long for the world to forget his contributions to educational theory. John Vespasian explains how the Aristotelian idea that the purpose of life is happiness received attacks from all sides. In contrast to Aristotle’s educational advice (i.e., teach students to become virtuous, so that they can achieve happiness), the education in ensuing centuries concentrated on learning facts and acquiring skills. Here is the link to the original article:

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5:18

Putting Aristotle’s views on education into practice

John Vespasian ·

2025/02/26

After the disastrous distortions introduced in late Antiquity, it took centuries to put into practice the views that Aristotle (384-322 BC) had developed on education. John Vespasian explains that Aristotelian educational ideas emanate from the Aristotelian ethics. If happiness is the goal, and virtue shows the path, then the purpose of education is to teach virtue. Each student should learn ethics and acquire good habits (virtues) that will lead him to happiness. Here is the link to the original

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6:34

Schopenhauer's main ideas

John Vespasian ·

2025/02/26

Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) produced a philosophical system that revolves around the theory of the will (“life force”), which he regarded as the prime mover of all living entities. John Vespasian passes review to Schopenhauer’s main ideas. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/schopenhauers-main-ideas/

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8:35

Schopenhauer's key concepts

John Vespasian ·

2025/02/26

The key concepts in the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) connect it to Ancient Stoicism and existentialism. John Vespasian passes review to those concepts, which Schopenhauer first outlined in “The world as will and representation,” a book that he published in 1818. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/schopenhauers-key-concepts/

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8:03

The revival of Aristotle’s views on education

John Vespasian ·

2025/02/26

The twentieth century has generated three serious initiatives to revive the educational philosophy put forward by Aristotle (384-322 BC), or similar to his. John Vespasian explains Aristotle's views on education compared to John Dewey's, Carl Roger's, and Maria Montessori's. He also explains the uniqueness of Aristotle's views on education. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/the-revival-of-aristotles-views-on-education/

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7:07

Schopenhauer and the role of reason

John Vespasian ·

2025/02/25

Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) rejected the unshakeable optimism of his contemporaries about the power of reason. John Vespasian explains that Schopenhauer acknowledged that all individuals are potentially able to think, but pointed out that we have to make the effort to assess facts accurately and draw logical conclusions. He also explains how Schopenhauer diverges from Aristotle (384-322 BC) on the role of reason. Aristotle viewed reason as the key characteristic that differentiates humans from

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5:24

Aristotle’s influence on Western philosophy

John Vespasian ·

2025/02/25

The historical influence of Aristotle (384-322 BC) rests on the labours of one man, namely, Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274). John Vespasian explains why Aquinas devoted most of his life to reconciling Christian theology with Aristotelian philosophy. He also breaks down the key aspects in which Aquinas retook Aristotelian philosophy and made it accessible to large numbers of readers. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/aristotles-influence-on-western-philosophy/

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