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The World as Will and Representation by Arthur Schopenhauer

The world is my representation. This single, arresting sentence opens Arthur Schopenhauer’s The World as Will and Idea, a philosophical treatise that…

The World as Will and Representation by Arthur Schopenhauer
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Runtime: 57 hr 56 min · Watch the full audiobook on YouTube · Subscribe to Ion Books

The world is my representation. This single, arresting sentence opens Arthur Schopenhauer’s The World as Will and Idea, a philosophical treatise that demands patience and repeated engagement. Published in 1818, the work arrived in a German intellectual landscape dominated by Hegel’s dialectical idealism, yet Schopenhauer positioned himself not as a follower, but as a radical reviser of Kant. He argued that the mind does not merely reflect reality, but actively constructs it through space, time, and causality. Beneath this constructed surface lies the thing-in-itself, which Schopenhauer identifies as Will: a blind, ceaseless striving that undergirds all existence. This is not a light read, nor is it meant to be. Schopenhauer’s prose is dense, polemical, and deeply personal, weaving together European rationalism with insights from the Upanishads and Buddhism. He challenges the reader to look beyond the pleasant illusions of daily life and confront the fundamental nature of desire and suffering. The book’s structure, moving from epistemology to ontology, aesthetics, and ethics, requires a slow, immersive approach.

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Public domain & narration

The World as Will and Representation was first published in 1818. Works first published before 1931 are in the public domain in the United States, so the text is free to read, share and adapt. This English edition is the translation by R. B. Haldane and John Kemp. The edition shown here comes from Project Gutenberg, which publishes only books that are in the US public domain.

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Chapters

  1. Chapter 1: Author's Preface, 1st Edition (1818) (16:17) · watch
  2. Chapter 2: Author's Preface, 2nd Edition (1844) (29:05) · watch
  3. Book I: The World As Idea, First Aspect (01-03) (15:38) · watch
  4. Book I: The World As Idea, First Aspect (04) (15:46) · watch
  5. Book I: The World As Idea, First Aspect (05) (17:26) · watch
  6. Book I: The World As Idea, First Aspect (06) (19:36) · watch
  7. Book I: The World As Idea, First Aspect (07a) (16:13) · watch
  8. Book I: The World As Idea, First Aspect (07b) (14:13) · watch
  9. Book I: The World As Idea, First Aspect (08) (12:37) · watch
  10. Book I: The World As Idea, First Aspect (09a) (16:23) · watch
  11. Book I: The World As Idea, First Aspect (09b) (14:34) · watch
  12. Book I: The World As Idea, First Aspect (10-12) (24:54) · watch
  13. Book I: The World As Idea, First Aspect (13) (9:44) · watch
  14. Book I: The World As Idea, First Aspect (14) (23:42) · watch
  15. Book I: The World As Idea, First Aspect (15a) (22:37) · watch
  16. Book I: The World As Idea, First Aspect (15b) (21:46) · watch
  17. Book I: The World As Idea, First Aspect (16) (23:14) · watch
  18. Book II: The World As Will, First Aspect (17) (14:07) · watch
  19. Book II: The World As Will, First Aspect (18) (11:42) · watch
  20. Book II: The World As Will, First Aspect (19) (8:59) · watch
  21. Book II: The World As Will, First Aspect (20) (9:34) · watch
  22. Book II: The World As Will, First Aspect (21-22) (9:53) · watch
  23. Book II: The World As Will, First Aspect (23) (21:33) · watch
  24. Book II: The World As Will, First Aspect (24) (27:55) · watch
  25. Book II: The World As Will, First Aspect (25) (8:28) · watch
  26. Book II: The World As Will, First Aspect (26a) (13:26) · watch
  27. Book II: The World As Will, First Aspect (26b) (15:10) · watch
  28. Book II: The World As Will, First Aspect (27a) (20:29) · watch
  29. Book II: The World As Will, First Aspect (27b) (22:46) · watch
  30. Book II: The World As Will, First Aspect (28) (27:41) · watch
  31. Book II: The World As Will, First Aspect (29) (10:17) · watch
  32. Book III: The World As Idea, Second Aspect (30-31) (17:03) · watch
  33. Book III: The World As Idea, Second Aspect (32-33) (10:34) · watch
  34. Book III: The World As Idea, Second Aspect (34) (10:20) · watch
  35. Book III: The World As Idea, Second Aspect (35) (8:57) · watch
  36. Book III: The World As Idea, Second Aspect (36) (30:43) · watch
  37. Book III: The World As Idea, Second Aspect (37) (3:52) · watch
  38. Book III: The World As Idea, Second Aspect (38) (15:17) · watch
  39. Book III: The World As Idea, Second Aspect (39) (19:43) · watch
  40. Book III: The World As Idea, Second Aspect (40) (4:39) · watch
  41. Book III: The World As Idea, Second Aspect (41) (11:19) · watch
  42. Book III: The World As Idea, Second Aspect (42) (2:52) · watch
  43. Book III: The World As Idea, Second Aspect (43) (15:21) · watch
  44. Book III: The World As Idea, Second Aspect (44) (6:12) · watch
  45. Book III: The World As Idea, Second Aspect (45) (17:53) · watch
  46. Book III: The World As Idea, Second Aspect (46) (7:46) · watch
  47. Book III: The World As Idea, Second Aspect (47) (3:09) · watch
  48. Book III: The World As Idea, Second Aspect (48) (11:01) · watch
  49. Book III: The World As Idea, Second Aspect (49) (10:24) · watch
  50. Book III: The World As Idea, Second Aspect (50) (17:36) · watch
  51. Book III: The World As Idea, Second Aspect (51) (37:48) · watch
  52. Book III: The World As Idea, Second Aspect (52) (37:36) · watch
  53. Book IV: The World As Will, Second Aspect (53) (11:28) · watch
  54. Book IV: The World As Will, Second Aspect (54) (33:46) · watch
  55. Book IV: The World As Will, Second Aspect (55a) (23:27) · watch
  56. Book IV: The World As Will, Second Aspect (55b) (20:17) · watch
  57. Book IV: The World As Will, Second Aspect (55c) (21:26) · watch
  58. Book IV: The World As Will, Second Aspect (56) (9:58) · watch
  59. Book IV: The World As Will, Second Aspect (57) (24:37) · watch
  60. Book IV: The World As Will, Second Aspect (58) (12:44) · watch
  61. Book IV: The World As Will, Second Aspect (59) (9:22) · watch
  62. Book IV: The World As Will, Second Aspect (60) (15:14) · watch
  63. Book IV: The World As Will, Second Aspect (61) (7:29) · watch
  64. Book IV: The World As Will, Second Aspect (62a) (16:57) · watch
  65. Book IV: The World As Will, Second Aspect (62b) (16:44) · watch
  66. Book IV: The World As Will, Second Aspect (62c) (17:50) · watch
  67. Book IV: The World As Will, Second Aspect (63) (20:09) · watch
  68. Book IV: The World As Will, Second Aspect (64) (7:31) · watch
  69. Book IV: The World As Will, Second Aspect (65) (23:14) · watch
  70. Book IV: The World As Will, Second Aspect (66) (21:19) · watch
  71. Book IV: The World As Will, Second Aspect (67) (9:40) · watch
  72. Book IV: The World As Will, Second Aspect (68a) (15:34) · watch
  73. Book IV: The World As Will, Second Aspect (68b) (14:18) · watch
  74. Book IV: The World As Will, Second Aspect (68c) (17:46) · watch
  75. Book IV: The World As Will, Second Aspect (68d) (14:41) · watch
  76. Book IV: The World As Will, Second Aspect (69) (13:18) · watch
  77. Book IV: The World As Will, Second Aspect (70) (16:29) · watch
  78. Book IV: The World As Will, Second Aspect (71) (10:39) · watch
  79. Chapter 79: Criticism of the Kantian Philosophy 01 (9:08) · watch
  80. Chapter 80: Criticism of the Kantian Philosophy 02 (10:10) · watch
  81. Chapter 81: Criticism of the Kantian Philosophy 03 (15:02) · watch
  82. Chapter 82: Criticism of the Kantian Philosophy 04 (14:51) · watch
  83. Chapter 83: Criticism of the Kantian Philosophy 05 (13:39) · watch
  84. Chapter 84: Criticism of the Kantian Philosophy 06 (14:35) · watch
  85. Chapter 85: Criticism of the Kantian Philosophy 07 (18:14) · watch
  86. Chapter 86: Criticism of the Kantian Philosophy 08 (16:52) · watch
  87. Chapter 87: Criticism of the Kantian Philosophy 09 (13:26) · watch
  88. Chapter 88: Criticism of the Kantian Philosophy 10 (16:43) · watch
  89. Chapter 89: Criticism of the Kantian Philosophy 11 (18:12) · watch
  90. Chapter 90: Criticism of the Kantian Philosophy 12 (17:50) · watch
  91. Chapter 91: Criticism of the Kantian Philosophy 13 (16:15) · watch
  92. Chapter 92: Criticism of the Kantian Philosophy 14 (16:59) · watch
  93. Chapter 93: Criticism of the Kantian Philosophy 15 (15:48) · watch
  94. Chapter 94: Criticism of the Kantian Philosophy 16 (14:30) · watch
  95. Chapter 95: Criticism of the Kantian Philosophy 17 (17:41) · watch
  96. Chapter 96: Criticism of the Kantian Philosophy 18 (16:03) · watch
  97. Chapter 97: Criticism of the Kantian Philosophy 19 (15:43) · watch
  98. Chapter 98: Criticism of the Kantian Philosophy 20 (15:52) · watch
  99. Chapter 99: Criticism of the Kantian Philosophy 21 (17:36) · watch
  100. Chapter 100: Criticism of the Kantian Philosophy 22 (14:49) · watch
  101. Chapter 101: Criticism of the Kantian Philosophy 23 (14:03) · watch
  102. Chapter 102: Criticism of the Kantian Philosophy 24 (16:12) · watch
  103. Chapter 103: I. The Standpoint of Idealism, Pt. 1 (16:32) · watch
  104. Chapter 104: I. The Standpoint of Idealism, Pt. 2 (16:00) · watch
  105. Chapter 105: I. The Standpoint of Idealism, Pt. 3 (16:16) · watch
  106. Chapter 106: II. The Doctrine of Perception, or Knowledge of Understanding (20:09)
  107. Chapter 107: III. On the Senses (16:39)
  108. Chapter 108: IV. On Knowledge A Priori, Pt. 1 (19:03)
  109. Chapter 109: IV. On Knowledge A Priori, Pt. 2 (21:39)
  110. Chapter 110: IV. On Knowledge A Priori, Pt. 3 (17:08)
  111. Chapter 111: IV. On Knowledge A Priori, Pt. 4 (15:20)
  112. Chapter 112: V. On the Irrational Intellect (11:34)
  113. Chapter 113: VI. The Doctrine of Abstract or Rational Knowledge (23:04)
  114. Chapter 114: VII. On the Relation of the Concrete Knowledge of Perception to Abstract Knowledge, Pt. 1 (18:48)
  115. Chapter 115: VII. On the Relation of the Concrete Knowledge of Perception to Abstract Knowledge, Pt. 2 (20:29)
  116. Chapter 116: VII. On the Relation of the Concrete Knowledge of Perception to Abstract Knowledge, Pt. 3 (20:40)
  117. Chapter 117: VIII. On the Theory of the Ludicrous, Pt. 1 (16:10)
  118. Chapter 118: VIII. On the Theory of the Ludicrous, Pt. 2 (17:13)
  119. Chapter 119: IX. On Logic in General (14:13)
  120. Chapter 120: X. On the Syllogism (27:33)
  121. Chapter 121: XI. On Rhetoric (3:48)
  122. Chapter 122: XII. On the Doctrine of Science (29:00)
  123. Chapter 123: XIII. On the Methods of Mathematics (6:33)
  124. Chapter 124: XIV. On the Association of Ideas (11:31)
  125. Chapter 125: XV. On the Essential Imperfections of the Intellect, Pt. 1 (17:10)
  126. Chapter 126: XV. On the Essential Imperfections of the Intellect, Pt. 2 (15:30)
  127. Chapter 127: XVI. On the Practical Use of Reason & On Stoicism, Pt. 1 (17:29)
  128. Chapter 128: XVI. On the Practical Use of Reason & On Stoicism, Pt. 2 (18:50)
  129. Chapter 129: XVII. On Man's Need of Metaphysics, Pt. 1 (24:44)
  130. Chapter 130: XVII. On Man's Need of Metaphysics, Pt. 2 (19:26)
  131. Chapter 131: XVII. On Man's Need of Metaphysics, Pt. 3 (23:06)
  132. Chapter 132: XVII. On Man's Need of Metaphysics, Pt. 4 (19:14)
  133. Chapter 133: XVIII. On the Possibility of Knowing the Thing In Itself (27:12)
  134. Chapter 134: XIX. On the Primacy of the Will in Self-Consciousness, Pt. 1 (23:35)
  135. Chapter 135: XIX. On the Primacy of the Will in Self-Consciousness, Pt. 2 (18:40)
  136. Chapter 136: XIX. On the Primacy of the Will in Self-Consciousness, Pt. 3 (22:58)
  137. Chapter 137: XIX. On the Primacy of the Will in Self-Consciousness, Pt. 4 (21:46)
  138. Chapter 138: XIX. On the Primacy of the Will in Self-Consciousness, Pt. 5 (24:04)
  139. Chapter 139: XIX. On the Primacy of the Will in Self-Consciousness, Pt. 6 (19:31)
  140. Chapter 140: XX. Objectification of the Will in the Animal Organism, Pt. 1 (16:33)
  141. Chapter 141: XX. Objectification of the Will in the Animal Organism, Pt. 2 (16:43)
  142. Chapter 142: XX. Objectification of the Will in the Animal Organism, Pt. 3 (15:51)
  143. Chapter 143: XX. Objectification of the Will in the Animal Organism, Pt. 4 (20:56)
  144. Chapter 144: XXI. Retrospect and More General View (7:55)
  145. Chapter 145: XXII. Objective View of the Intellect, Pt. 1 (18:55)
  146. Chapter 146: XXII. Objective View of the Intellect, Pt. 2 (18:29)
  147. Chapter 147: XXII. Objective View of the Intellect, Pt. 3 (23:08)
  148. Chapter 148: XXIII. On The Objectification Of The Will In Unconscious Nature, Pt. 1 (18:03)
  149. Chapter 149: XXIII. On The Objectification Of The Will In Unconscious Nature, Pt. 2 (17:54)
  150. Chapter 150: XXIV. On Matter, Pt. 1 (21:58)
  151. Chapter 151: XXIV. On Matter, Pt. 2 (19:22)
  152. Chapter 152: XXV. Transcendent Considerations Concerning The Will As Thing In Itself (27:32)
  153. Chapter 153: XXVI. On Teleology, Pt. 1 (22:09)
  154. Chapter 154: XXVI. On Teleology, Pt. 2 (24:05)
  155. Chapter 155: XXVII. On Instinct And Mechanical Tendency (18:56)
  156. Chapter 156: XXVIII. Characterisation Of The Will To Live (29:45)
  157. Chapter 157: XXIX. On The Knowledge Of The Ideas (10:46)
  158. Chapter 158: XXX. On the Pure Subject of Knowledge (25:34)
  159. Chapter 159: XXXI. On Genius, Pt. 1 (21:08)
  160. Chapter 160: XXXI. On Genius, Pt. 2 (22:25)
  161. Chapter 161: XXXI. On Genius, Pt. 3 (25:21)
  162. Chapter 162: XXXII. On Madness (11:34)
  163. Chapter 163: XXXIII. Isolated Remarks on Natural Beauty (6:12)
  164. Chapter 164: XXXIV. On the Inner Nature of Art (13:30)
  165. Chapter 165: XXXV. On The Æsthetics Of Architecture (23:57)
  166. Chapter 166: XXXVI. Isolated Remarks On The Æsthetics Of The Plastic And Pictorial Arts (14:32)
  167. Chapter 167: XXXVII. On The Æsthetics Of Poetry, Pt. 1 (20:33)
  168. Chapter 168: XXXVII. On The Æsthetics Of Poetry, Pt. 2 (22:21)
  169. Chapter 169: XXXVIII. On History (22:25)
  170. Chapter 170: XXXIX. On The Metaphysics Of Music (31:12)
  171. Chapter 171: XL. Preface (3:53)
  172. Chapter 172: XLI. On Death And Its Relation To The Indestructibility Of Our True Nature, Pt. 1 (19:20)
  173. Chapter 173: XLI. On Death And Its Relation To The Indestructibility Of Our True Nature, Pt. 2 (21:23)
  174. Chapter 174: XLI. On Death And Its Relation To The Indestructibility Of Our True Nature, Pt. 3 (20:19)
  175. Chapter 175: XLI. On Death And Its Relation To The Indestructibility Of Our True Nature, Pt. 4 (18:02)
  176. Chapter 176: XLI. On Death And Its Relation To The Indestructibility Of Our True Nature, Pt. 5 (19:50)
  177. Chapter 177: XLI. On Death And Its Relation To The Indestructibility Of Our True Nature, Pt. 6 (21:00)
  178. Chapter 178: XLI. On Death And Its Relation To The Indestructibility Of Our True Nature, Pt. 7 (21:07)
  179. Chapter 179: XLII. The Life Of The Species (19:52)
  180. Chapter 180: XLIII. On Heredity, Pt. 1 (16:35)
  181. Chapter 181: XLIII. On Heredity, Pt. 2 (22:36)
  182. Chapter 182: XLIV. The Metaphysics Of The Love Of The Sexes, Pt. 1 (21:07)
  183. Chapter 183: XLIV. The Metaphysics Of The Love Of The Sexes, Pt. 2 (20:36)
  184. Chapter 184: XLIV. The Metaphysics Of The Love Of The Sexes, Pt. 3 (20:03)
  185. Chapter 185: XLIV. The Metaphysics Of The Love Of The Sexes, Pt. 4 (25:22)
  186. Chapter 186: XLV. On The Assertion Of The Will To Live (12:49)
  187. Chapter 187: XLVI. On The Vanity And Suffering Of Life, Pt. 1 (21:47)
  188. Chapter 188: XLVI. On The Vanity And Suffering Of Life, Pt. 2 (23:42)
  189. Chapter 189: XLVII. On Ethics, Pt. 1 (20:47)
  190. Chapter 190: XLVII. On Ethics, Pt. 2 (19:34)
  191. Chapter 191: XLVIII. On The Doctrine Of The Denial Of The Will To Live, Pt. 1 (22:12)
  192. Chapter 192: XLVIII. On The Doctrine Of The Denial Of The Will To Live, Pt. 2 (20:37)
  193. Chapter 193: XLVIII. On The Doctrine Of The Denial Of The Will To Live, Pt. 3 (25:53)
  194. Chapter 194: XLVIII. On The Doctrine Of The Denial Of The Will To Live, Pt. 4 (23:56)
  195. Chapter 195: XLIX. The Way Of Salvation (17:10)
  196. Chapter 196: L. Epiphilosophy (18:50)
  197. Chapter 197: APPENDIX: Essay on the Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reason (22:54)

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