How did Johann Wolfgang von Goethe influence Arthur Schopenhauer’s intellectual development?

Arthur Schopenhauer’s intellectual development was significantly influenced by his association with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, particularly during the winter of 1813–14, which Schopenhauer spent in Weimar in intimate contact with the poet.1

Their relationship fostered a collaborative exchange of philosophical ideas. A notable outcome of this intellectual rapport was Schopenhauer’s support for Goethe’s scientific theories. Schopenhauer authored the treatise Über das Sehn und die Farben (1816; "On Vision and Colours"), in which he defended Goethe’s colour theory against the established views of Sir Isaac Newton.1

Beyond this specific scientific defense, the environment of Weimar—where Schopenhauer’s mother had also established herself within Goethe’s social circle—provided a formative backdrop for his early academic and intellectual life. While Schopenhauer ultimately built his own philosophical system upon the foundations of Plato, Immanuel Kant, and the Upanishads, his direct discussions with Goethe during his period of active maturity served as a key intellectual stimulus.21