Can a subjective view of any subject be of interest to the widest circle for centuries? Undoubtedly, if we are talking about the view of the outstanding German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer on the key problem of philosophy - the place of man in the world. Gloomy, caustic, shunned by illusions, Schopenhauer analyzes human existence very pessimistically and from the same positions in his works on the history of philosophy he considers the opinions of his famous predecessors. However, a critical look is valuable because it makes it possible to appreciate the dark sides of human nature - and take a fresh look at the bright sides.