Which English translation of Schopenhauer should I read?

December 15, 2010 9:28 AM

PhilosophyFilter: Which English language translation of Die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung should I read?

I'm looking for some advice from MeFites who have more knowledge in this area than myself. I already have a very strong recommendation from a close friend who seems to be an expert on the subject, but I want more input. Please include reasoning with your recommendation.

Here are the current considerations:

1. World as Will and Representation, translated by Payne
2. World as Will and Presentation, translated by Aquila and Carus
3. World as Will and Representation, translated by Norman, Welchman, and Janaway
4. World as Will and Idea, translated by Haldane and Kemp

Bonus if you can find a place where I can buy an electronic copy of your pet translation (the only one I've been able to find is the linked Haldane and Kemp).

posted by nzero to Religion & Philosophy (1 answer total)

Best answer: I'm not a Schopenhauer specialist and don't have a really strong opinion on this, but I'd definitely go with one of the new translations from Longman or Cambridge, just for the sake of accuracy. I've read some of the Haldane/Kemp late-19C translations and they're quite poor by modern standards, often inaccurate to the point of obscuring the meaning. On the other hand, based on experience with the Nietzsche translations by some of the people who worked on the new Cambridge edition, I'd say it's certain to be precise and accurate in meaning, but it's also likely to be stylistically awkward, infelicitous English by contrast to the generally elegantly written German original. So, on balance, my first choice would be Aquila/Carus's new Longman edition.
posted by RogerB at 10:10 AM on December 15, 2010