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The philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) on the unconscious has exerted a vast influence on later thinkers such as Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Alfred Adler, or Wilhelm Reich. In his work “The world as will and representation” (1818), Schopenhauer outlined his philosophy of the unconscious. Schopenhauer defined the will as the blind, irrational drive to survive, reproduce, and seek pleasure at any cost. It’s a force that influences all living creatures, and that can prompt human beings to make dire mistakes. The will encompasses instincts and impulses that Sigmund Freud had named “the unconscious.” Schopenhauer viewed the will as a force operating beyond the realm of awareness. Thus, the will can prompt individuals to act illogically, detrimentally, or foolishly. According to Schopenhauer, the conscious mind is a surface layer driven by the will; unless you adopt countermeasures, the desires, instincts and impulses created by the will can prompt you to take counterproductive decisions. Schopenhauer devoted decades to identifying measures to counteract the will, minimise suffering and increase happiness. However, in his work “Parerga and Paralipomena” (1851), he admitted that it is easier to minimise suffering than to ensure happiness. The will can lead to intense pleasure, but also to suffering. I must explain the latter because it is far from self-evident. If the will is trying to protect life, why does suffering take place? Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/schopenhauer-and-the-unconscious/