This dissertation concerns the discovery and usage of Schopenhauerian philosophy by literary schools and literary figures in France between 1860 and 1890. After a concise analysis of the fundamental concepts which structured Schopenhauer's philosophical system, and the system's role in the history of philosophy, it is suggested that the work of Richard Wagner acted as the primary conduit by which Schopenhauerian philosophy was disseminated in France, eventually finding its way into the major literary schools of the time, including Parnassianism, Naturalism, Decadence, and Symbolism. The significance of Schopenhauerian philosophy for each movement is illustrated by a close analysis of the writing of a representative figure from each movement, including Villiers d'Isle-Adam, Emile Zola, Joris-Karl Huysmans, and Stephane Mallarme. It is then further suggested that each of these individuals selectively used concepts from Schopenhauer's work as a means to philosophically structure and defend his works and his aesthetic predipositions. It is finally argued that the reason that such varied authors would use the same philosophical text for inspiration was due to the prevailing atmosphere of pessimism that permeated both the social milieu of France and the intellectual/artistic circles, a pessimism that Schopenhauer's work all too perfectly represented. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 51-09, Section: A, page: 3065. / Major Professor: David Gruender. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1990.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_78299 |
| Contributors | Kurtz, Steven John., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 302 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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