Synthesized answer
"Fourfold Root" is indispensable for grasping Schopenhauer's meaning because Schopenhauer himself repeatedly and urgently insists upon a previous thorough knowledge of it as the key to his own system, asserting that this knowledge is the indispensable condition for a right comprehension of his meaning [3].
The passages also indicate that the "Fourfold Root" is highly important for a profound and correct knowledge of Schopenhauer's philosophy, to the extent that it may even be doubted whether the translation of his chief work, "Die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung," can contribute much towards the appreciation of his system without the help of the "Fourfold Root" [3]. While the "Will in Nature" is described as merely a record of confirmations for his doctrine, the "Fourfold Root" is presented as a more fundamental requirement for understanding his views [2].
Synthesized from the book passages below. Chat with the book on Feynman for follow-up.
From the book
o his own system, asserting that knowledge to be the indispensable condition for a right comprehension of his meaning. So far as I am aware, neither the "Fourfold Root" nor the "Will in Nature" have as yet found a translator; therefore, considering the dawning interest which has begun to make itself felt for Schopenhauer's philosophy in England and in America, and the fact that no more competent scholar has come forward to do the work, it may not seem presumptuous to suppose that this version may be acceptable to those who wish to acquire a more than superficial knowledge of…
of this remarkable thinker, yet whose acquaintance with German does not permit them to read his works in the original. Now although some portions of both the Essays published in the present volume have of course become antiquated, owing to the subsequent development of the empirical sciences, while others--such as, for instance, Schopenhauer's denunciation of plagiarism in the cases of Brandis and Rosas in the beginning of Physiology and Pathology[2]--can have no interest for the reader of the present day, I have nevertheless given them just as he left them and refrained from all…
e the public, I am aware of the great difficulties of my task, and indeed can hardly hope to do justice to the Author. In fact, had it not been for the considerations I am about to state, I might probably never have published what had originally been undertaken in order to acquire a clearer comprehension of these essays, rather than with a view to publicity. [1] From the fourth edition by Julius Frauenstädt. "Fourfold Root," Leipzig, 1875; "Will in Nature," Leipzig, 1878. The two treatises which form the contents of the present volume have so much importance for a profound and…
y. ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER. FRANKFURT AM MAIN, _September, 1847._ EDITOR'S PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION. In the present volume I lay before the public the Third Edition of the "Fourfold Root," including the emendations and additions left by Schopenhauer in his own interleaved copy. I have already had occasion elsewhere to relate that he left copies of all his works thus interleaved, and that he was wont to jot down on these fly-leaves any corrections and additions he might intend inserting in future editions. Schopenhauer himself prepared for the press all that has been…
hope that it may be an assistance in, and an incitement to, a deeper study of all Schopenhauer's works. THE TRANSLATOR. _May, 1888._ CONTENTS. ON THE FOURFOLD ROOT OF THE PRINCIPLE OF SUFFICIENT REASON. CHAP. PAGE Translator's Preface v Author's Preface to the Second Edition xvii Editor's Preface to the Third Edition xx Editor's Preface to the Fourth Edition xxviii I. Introduction …