The Universe as Will: Schopenhauer's Metaphysical Vision

Reality is not an independent entity; it requires subjectivity to perceive its objectivity. Without a perceiver, the concepts of space, time, and the universe would be fundamentally different. For instance, time's passage is meaningless without someone to experience it. Philosopher David Bather Woods, drawing on Arthur Schopenhauer's philosophy, suggests that our subjectivity, driven by will, also constitutes the world. Schopenhauer's seminal work, 'The World as Will and Representation,' distinguishes between the world as it appears and the world as it is. He posits two key ideas: 'The world is my representation' and 'The world is my will.' While we understand the world as a representation, Schopenhauer's notion of the world as will is more complex.

The will, in Schopenhauer's view, is multifaceted. Initially, it is our everyday experience of desires and motivations. We perceive ourselves as representations, but we also experience our inner desires and decisions. This duality suggests that there is more to objects than their representations. Schopenhauer argues that the will provides insight into the metaphysical reality beyond mere appearances. If we only experienced the world as representations, we would be like 'Engelskopf,' detached from the essence of reality. However, the will grounds us in the world, offering a unique perspective on our own existence.

Schopenhauer extends the concept of will beyond its literal meaning, using it as a metaphor for the unnameable essence of reality. He likens it to Aristotle's metaphor, where a species name is given to its genus. The will, as we know it, is just one species of the broader, unnamed genus that constitutes reality. This concept appears in various forms across nature, from animal instincts to plant responsiveness and even the forces in inanimate matter.

Through analogy, Schopenhauer suggests that the relationship between appearances and essences mirrors our understanding of the will. Just as a mote in a sunbeam has an inner essence, so too does every object in the universe. The will, therefore, becomes a theory of everything, offering a framework to interpret the entire world. It is not about attributing volition to all of nature but about using our understanding of the will to gain insight into the essence of all things.

The will also serves as a theory of human existence, placing humans alongside other natural beings. While humans manifest the will in a unique way, they are not separate from nature. Our intellect, unlike that of other animals, allows us to engage in abstract thinking, but it remains a tool of the will, much like our physical organs.

Schopenhauer's concept of the will to life suggests that all representations strive to persevere in their being. This striving, however, is a source of suffering, as satisfying desires only leads to more desires. This pessimistic view of life is central to Schopenhauer's philosophy, highlighting the inherent suffering in human and animal existence.

Despite this, some humans may find a way out through asceticism, as seen in various world religions. Ascetic saints, who resist the will to life, represent the highest ethical ideal. Although they remain manifestations of the will, they aspire to transcend it, embodying a paradoxical existence in a universe driven by desire.