Irish Times Compares Philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer to Greta Thunberg

Joe Humphreys of the Irish Times recently wrote an article about ten philosophers which included arguably the greatest philosopher of the past two hundred years, Arthur Schopenhauer :

"Think of him as a curmudgeonly Greta Thunberg with a side-act in cultural criticism", he wrote. 

How alike are these two people ? Have a read of the following quotes and make up your own mind.

Here is Greta appealing to the higher authority of the IPCC :

“With today’s emissions levels, the remaining budget is gone in less than eight years. These aren’t anyone’s views, this is the science,” Thunberg said, citing a 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report. “I know you don’t want to report this or talk about this but I will keep repeating the numbers until you do.” 

The 2018 IPCC report said that the world had a limit of 420 gigatons of carbon to emit if there was to be a 67% chance of keeping the increase in global temperatures to 1.5 degrees. Thunberg said that was now down to 340 gigatons.

Here is Schopenhauer on authority in his essay  "Thinking for Oneself" :

Hence every true thinker for himself is so far like a monarch; he is absolute, and recognises nobody above him. His judgments, like the decrees of a monarch, spring from his own sovereign power and proceed directly from himself. He takes as little notice of authority as a monarch does of a command; nothing is valid unless he has himself authorised it. On the other hand, those of vulgar minds, who are swayed by all kinds of current opinions, authorities, and prejudices, are like the people which in silence obey the law and commands.

The people who are so eager and impatient to settle disputed questions, by bringing forward authorities, are really glad when they can place the understanding and insight of some one else in the field in place of their own, which are deficient. Their number is legion. For, as Seneca says, "Unusquisque mavult credere, quam judicare."

Schopenhauer's essays are well worth a read during the lockdown. One thing I can agree with the Irish Times on.