Ho, Nathan H.2019-08-222019-08-222019-05https://hdl.handle.net/2144/37198Submitted to Ian D. Dunkle for CAS PH 110 A1 Great Philosophers on Friendship and Solitude at Boston University, Spring 2019. Selected by classmates and the professor for publication in this special collection for the course in OpenBU.In Parerga and Paralipomena, Schopenhauer argues against society and social interactions by highlighting various disadvantages or costs of society, such as interpersonal discord, restraint on one’s freedom, and obstruction of self-reflection in society. The author of this paper entitled Schopenhauer's Disvalue of Society argues that Schopenhauer’s argument against society is incomplete and does not present strong reason to be alone or avoid making friends. He discusses various benefits of friendship, such as social and personal skills acquired from social interactions, having friends to share in one’s joy, and that self-reflection in society is possible and superior to self-reflection in seclusion. These benefits, he argues, outweigh the costs, or the bad, of society. Therefore, social interaction should be promoted instead of social isolation.en-USFriendshipSolitudeSelf-reflectionSchopenhauer, ArthurEpictetusAquinas, ThomasUmberson, DebraMontez, Jennifer KarasBoethius, AniciusSelf-sufficiencySocial interactionSocial isolationSocietySeclusionInterpersonal discordIndividualityFreedomFree willResilienceMutual accommodationCompromiseHabit of mindRoommateTemperamentFeedbackTeamworkCollaborationArticle