The Wisdom of Life from Ghazali and Schopenhauer’s Points of View

In the present paper, one of the most applied topics of philosophy, that is, wise living, which promises happiness, has been discussed. This issue is traced and investigated comparatively, especially in the thought of Ghazali and Schopenhauer. That humans have always been concerned about living well can be witnessed in ancient texts and advice from ancestors. In this regard, wisdom guides humans in a way that they can have happy and peaceful moments. Here, both Ghazali and Schopenhauer described self-knowledge as prior knowledge and necessary for happiness. They both believed that human wisdom could guide them to the blissful. However, there is a difference between Ghazali and Schopenhauer in that Ghazali emphasizes religious elements and proposes practical methods such as implementing Sharia’, seeking knowledge, and striving for a living. In contrast, Schopenhauer has paid attention to other issues like anthropology and understanding the nature of human life, based on which he described health and planning as useful methods.