Idealistic Studies

Volume 31, Issue 1, Winter 2001

David E. Cartwright
Pages 31-54

Two Senses of "Thing-in-Itself" in Schopenhauer's Philosophy

I present an interpretation of Schopenhauer's metaphysics that moderates between the positions of the advocates and critics of the standard view and the standard objection. I contend that there are two senses of "thing-initself' in Schopenhauer's philosophy. I agree with the advocates of the standard view that the will is thing-in-itself, but only in a relative sense, i.e., the will is the thing-in-itself relative to other appearances. But I agree with the critics of the standard objection and deny that Schopenhauer's metaphysics is open to the standard objection