Pocket Philosophy: Schopenhauer's Porcupine

Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) was a German philosopher and a proponent of pessimistic philosophy. Deeply cynical of love and the want for children, he believed humans are all mere animals - just far more unhappy, because of our self-awareness.

The porcupine dilemma is a metaphor about the challenges of human intimacy. Schopenhauer believed that, despite our good intentions, human intimacy cannot occur without substantial harm.

By adapting famous animal parables, the Pocket Philosophy series seeks to introduce inquisitive readers of all ages - from 1 to 100! - to the biggest names in philosophy.

Alice Brire-Haquet was a cherry picker and a high school teacher before she turned to writing books. The cherries have blossomed, the students have grown up, and about a hundred of her books are now scattered throughout people's homes, even throughout the world thanks to numerous translations. She saw some of the world herself before returning to Normandy, France, with her cello and her family.

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