Kant Quote by Arthur Schopenhauer
![“[T]he whole talk about the absolute, is nothing but the cosmological proof incognito. This proof, in consequence of the case brought against it by Kant, deprived of all right and declared outlawed, dare no longer show itself in its true form, and therefore appears in all kinds of disguises - now…” quote by Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f6d/arthur-schopenhauer-226_absolute-matter_t-he-whole-talk-about-the-absolute-is-no_851288.jpg)
““[T]he whole talk about the absolute, is nothing but the cosmological proof incognito. This proof, in consequence of the case brought against it by Kant, deprived of all right and declared outlawed, dare no longer show itself in its true form, and therefore appears in all kinds of disguises - now in distinguished form, concealed under intellectual intuition or pure thought now as a suspicious vagabond, half begging, half demanding what it wants in more unpretending philosophemes. If an absolute must absolutely be had, then I will give one which is far better fitted to meet all the demands which are made on such a thing than these visionary phantoms: it is matter. It has no beginning, and it is imperishable; thus it is really independent, and quod per se est et per se concipitur; from its womb all proceeds, and to it all returns; what more can be desired of an absolute?””
About This Quote
Source Philosophy: The World as Will and Representation, 1818
Schopenhauer argues that the concept of an absolute is a hidden cosmological proof, which he replaces with matter as the true absolute, infinite and self‑sufficient.
In simple terms: He says matter, not abstract ideas, is the ultimate reality.
Key Takeaway
Recognize material foundations over abstract speculation.
Themes
metaphysics
materialism
philosophy of reality
Mood
contemplative
skeptical
Type
philosophical
theoretical
When to use this quote
- Scientific inquiry
- theological debate
- existential reflection
Key Concepts
Cosmology
absolute
Kantian critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence supports matter as the absolute?
- How do we balance material and ideal explanations?
A Different Perspective
Abstract concepts may lack empirical grounding.
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![“[T]he appropriate form of address between man and man ought to be, not monsieur, sir, but fellow sufferer, compagnon de miseres.” quote by Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/be6/arthur-schopenhauer-226_addresses_t-he-appropriate-form-of-address-between_32897.jpg)
![“[Materialism] seeks the primary and most simple state of matter, and then tries to develop all the others from it; ascending from mere mechanism, to chemism, to polarity, to the vegetable and to the animal kingdom. And if we suppose this to have been done, the last link in the chain would be…” quote by Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/88c/arthur-schopenhauer-226_animal-kingdom_materialism-seeks-the-primary-and-most-s_50402.jpg)
