About the singularities of moral metaphysics in Schopenhauer and the meaning of the phenomenon of compassion

Abstract

In this article we present a characterization and defense of the phenomenological interpretation of Schopenhauer‟s moral philosophy while one of its differentiating elements in post-Kantian idealist tradition and some of his contributions to expanding the ethical discussion beyond the limits of modern rationality from the inclusion of interpretation of phenomena as a component of moral reflection. We shall begin discussing the conceptual basis used by Schopenhauer demonstrating that his understanding of the requirement of an empirical or phenomenological analysis dates back to Descartes and receives the decisive contribution from Kant, whose proposal for a transcendental idealism radicalizes the discussion of the subjective nature of our knowledge. Finally, we present Schopenhauer's analysis of the concept of compassion in order to show his form of investigation of sentiments based on an interpretation of the phenomena as a basis of significance, meaning, as a "phenomenology" or "hermeneutics", since it consists of an immanent metaphysical inquiry into the meaning of the phenomena.