The World as Representation
In “The World as Will and Representation,” Schopenhauer presents a duality of the world: on one side, we have the world as “representation” (Vorstellung), the way we perceive and interpret the world through our senses. This is the world we create in our minds, a subjective construction dependent on individual consciousness.
On the other side, we have the world as “will” (Wille), an underlying force or drive that is irrational, blind, and pushes all beings toward their goals, regardless of consciousness or morality. The will is the source of suffering, as it is endless and insatiable, an eternal striving without satisfaction.
Table Roleplaying as a Representation
When we play table roleplaying games, we engage in the creation of a world of “representation”. The game consists of rules, dice, and characters, but it is our collective imagination that brings this world to life. Schopenhauer’s idea that reality is something we represent to ourselves is directly reflected in how we, as players, create and interact with fictional universes.
Every time we roll a die or describe our character’s actions, we participate in a form of collective representation. This makes tabletop roleplaying a perfect model for Schopenhauer’s philosophy of the world as representation, where it is our minds that create reality. The game’s world is a parallel to our own, where the boundaries between objective reality and subjective experience become blurred.
The Will and the Character’s Inner Drive
But tabletop roleplaying is not just about the external world we create; it is also about the internal drives that motivate our characters—and, in a sense, ourselves. Schopenhauer’s *will* manifests in the game through the characters’ motivations, desires, and goals, often without them fully understanding why.
In many campaigns and adventures, it is precisely the characters’ will that drives the action forward, whether in the form of a quest for power, revenge, or something as simple as survival. Schopenhauer would argue that even these motives are manifestations of a fundamental, irrational will from which the characters (and we) are trapped, without the possibility of escape.
The Player as Creator and Consolation
Schopenhauer believed that we could find a form of solace and escape from the suffering of the will through aesthetic contemplation—art, music, and yes, even games. When we engage in tabletop roleplaying, we not only create a world of “representation”; we also step outside of ourselves and our own concerns, at least for a time.
This makes tabletop roleplaying a kind of aesthetic escape, where we, as players, not only find joy in creating new worlds but also temporary freedom from our own will-driven desires. It is a process in which, as Schopenhauer would say, we can experience a bit of the transcendence that comes from rising above our own will.
Conclusion: Schopenhauer at the Gaming Table
Playing tabletop roleplaying games with Schopenhauer’s philosophy in mind can give us a deeper understanding of both the game and ourselves. It reminds us that our experience of reality—whether fictional or real—is a creation of our minds. And it reminds us that while we may be driven by an irrational will, we can find consolation in the worlds we create and explore together.
So the next time you sit down to play, think of Schopenhauer. Perhaps you’ll find a new dimension in the game—one that lies just beneath the surface of the dice and characters, where will and representation collide.