Schopenhauer and the role of reason

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 animals, and the ultimate guide for making decisions. Schopenhauer rated reason as important, but insufficient in the absence of self-awareness. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/schopenhauer-and-the-role-of-reason/