The Essays of Arthur Schopenhauer; Religion, a Dialogue, Etc.

"The Essays of Arthur Schopenhauer; Religion, a Dialogue, Etc." by Arthur Schopenhauer, is a philosophical collection from the early 1800s where topics like religion and the habit of reading, get a deep look. The book contains a preface that explains Schopenhauer writes in a way that is easy to read and relates to regular life experiences. One part of the book is a talk between Demopheles, who thinks religion is important for improving society and teaching right from wrong, and Philalethes, who believes traditional religion hides the real truth and stops people from thinking for themselves. Philalethes pushes for finding truth through thinking and experiences instead of just accepting religious teachings. He thinks religion hurts society by keeping people from truly understanding the world, kicking off Schopenhauer's more general ponderings on what people believe and what it means to be alive.