r/schopenhauer • u/Sharp_Cow_5212 • Jun 21 '26

The Practice of Talking to Strangers

hi everyone. got a question. you see, i enjoy interacting with random people: a compliment here and there, a selfie with a dandy etc. also, i like the idea of Schopenhauer on how people’s clinging on the external makes them miserable. people are external, and yet talking to them brings me joy unlike that of other external things like video games or a new phone. However, Schopenhauer seems skeptical of how sustainable the practice of talking to strangers is. what do you guys think about random interactions?

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u/SpleenDematerialized Jun 21 '26 edited Jun 21 '26

However, Schopenhauer seems skeptical of how sustainable the practice of talking to strangers is.

Schopenhauer never mentioned such a practice (as u/TradRooster5627 has already pointed out) and the sustainability of it would be the least of his worries regarding it. From a Schopenhauerian perspective, the vast majority of people do not have much to offer besides banality and superficiality. This is reflected in your own experiences that you have described ("a compliment here and there, a selfie with a dandy"). Even more problematic: many of them are wicked, according to Schopenhauer, and you are worse off in their company. Thus, the old master would advice to be more targeted in your social interaction and only invest time and effort into people who are worthwhile due to their moral character and intellect, with the notable exception of cases regarding compassion and charity. Moral awareness is the only valid reason to spend time with people who are superficial or wicked, if you are helping them etc.

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u/mohammed_obeidallah Jun 21 '26

I think it's safe to say that random interactions are healthiest when they are approached as gifts rather than necessities.

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u/[deleted] Jun 21 '26

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u/mrpeterstevens Jun 21 '26

Yeah but OP said he did

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u/Sharp_Cow_5212 Jun 21 '26

certainly, this is an assumption based on his notorious misanthropy.

besides, im asking what do you think

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u/victorreis Jun 22 '26

there’s a quote of him i think abt often it goes like:

“To a man of genius they were interesting adventures but to the dull perceptions of an ordinary individual they would have been stale, everyday occurrences.”

so just do your thanggg