The dialogue between Philately and Demopheles

Commentary on Schopenhauer’s Popular Metaphysics

Abstract

Popular metaphysics is one of the topics that Arthur Schopenhauer addresses in his minor writings. That concept represents what is called “religion”, although in Schopenhauer it will take on a higher of performativity and establishes an analysis that goes beyond the manifestation of religious dogma. For this author, religion, like philosophy, lends itself to meet the metaphysical need in men. After evidencing the supremacy of philosophy over religion, it shows the flaws of the latter. In Schopenhauer, religion is well and fulfills a primary objective for men and in this sense it becomes popular metaphysics, however, what it has done throughout history cannot be ignored. We will highlight in the comments made by this author in the dialogue between Philately and Demophiles in the second volume of the Parerga and Paraliponema some philosophical positions that are in favor of religiosity, although this was not the main objective of Schopenhauer.