The World as Will and Representation is a philosophical treatise by Arthur Schopenhauer, first published in 1818. In this work, Schopenhauer examines the metaphysical nature of reality, arguing that the world is composed of a single underlying substance, which he calls “Will
The World as Will and Representation, sometimes translated as The World as Will and Idea, is the central work of the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer. The first edition was published in late 1818, with the date 1819 on the title page. A second, two-volume edition appeared in 1844: volume one was an edited version of the 1818 edition, while volume two consisted of commentary on the ideas expounded in volume one. A third expanded edition was published in 1859, the year before Schopenhauer's death. In 1948, an abridged version was edited by Thomas Mann.