Schopenhauer’s Monarch
The characteristic mark of minds of the first rank is the immediacy of all their judgments. Everything they produce is the result of thinking for themselves and already in the way it is spoken everywhere announces itself as such. He who truly thinks for himself is like a monarch, in that he recognizes no one over him. His judgments, like the decisions of a monarch, arise directly from his own absolute power. He no more accepts authorities than a monarch does orders, and he acknowledges the validity of nothing he has not himself confirmed.
The type of man described above does not discard contemplation altogether and favor thoughtless or blind action, rather, he is one who’s thoughts have organized value and are elevated to the level of being. His non-acceptance of authorities does not imply that he does not recognize the possibility of someone wiser or stronger than he, but that he does not accept their judgment without first confirming their value for himself.
To be is to have the ability to both recognize oneself clearly and also to act immediately on this knowledge. This is an interdependent relationship, and one’s being can be only be discovered through insight into both of these realms.
Copyright © 2009, 2010 Gornahoor Press
The word ‘immediacy’ in the first sentence of the quote seems misleading. It conjures up notions of time and gives the impression that he who judges quickest (‘immediately’) judges best, which is ridiculous. However, the rest of the quote makes clear that what Schopenhauer means does not concern time, but origin. To think like a monarch – to have a sovereign mind – is to know oneself and to be oneself, such that one’s judgments truly come from oneself and are not ‘mediated’ by the influence of others.
Comment by Will — 2010-07-28 @ 10:33
In this context, “immediate” means not mediated, that is, it is a direct, intuitive judgment.
Comment by Cologero — 2010-07-28 @ 18:10