Freedom and determination in Freud and Schopenhauer

Abstract

Although Freud and Schopenhauer are considered two of the main authors that emphasize the preponderance of the unconscious determination about behavior we can realize that the ethical conclusions derivate from that premise are divergent in some points. It happens due to a conception of moral phenomenon based in different projects. Schopenhauer's metaphysics project seems to indicate alternatives of less promising ethical dilemmas when comparing to Freud's project. Similarities with Freud, on the other hand, indicate the difficulties of conciliation about the conception of freedom and determination when applied to the moral phenomenon. Their postures are essentially tragic because emphasize the fragility conducting our destiny. Both seem to point to the difficulty to the emancipation project of the reason before the domain of wanting; however both of them emphasize the importance of it in the conduction of life.