The Two Fundamental Problems of Ethics Book by Arthur Schopenhauer

Arthur Schopenhauer's The Two Fundamental Problems of Ethics consists of two prize-winning essays, which were published together in 1841. The essays address the problems of freedom of the will and the basis of morality, and represent Schopenhauer's primary contribution to the field of ethics.

The two essays are:

• On the Freedom of the Will (1839): In this essay, Schopenhauer argues against the idea of free will, proposing a deterministic view of human action.
• On the Basis of Morality (1840): This essay contends that the true basis of morality is not a rational principle, as philosophers like Kant had argued, but rather a deeply felt sense of compassion for others.