An Infinite Cycle of Suffering

This dissertation is a Bahnsenian critique of Philipp Mainländer. I will begin by following the thought process of Mainländer, indicating what he took from Buddha, Christ, Kant, and Schopenhauer, whilst simultaneously showing the problems that arise with this. Mainländer misunderstands the Buddhist doctrines of Karma and Nirvana and refuses to acknowledge the redemption in Christ’s resurrection. I will argue that Kant is only important to Mainländer because of Schopenhauer’s refutation of his phenomenon/noumenon distinction, and it will be shown how Mainländer sees his work as a continuation of Schopenhauer’s. Following this, I will explain Mainländer’s theothanatology and how this relates to the Universe. Finally, I will critique Mainländer with the works of Julius Bahnsen, showing that the redemption promised to us via Mainländer’s theothanatology is unfounded. I will use contemporary physics to support Bahnsen’s claim that redemption cannot arise through death, because of the infinite cycle the universe is stuck in. This dissertation argues that Mainländer’s redemption is impossible, and even if we were to agree with all of his other philosophy, the idea that one can be redeemed via utter annihilation is mistaken.