The World as Will and Representation Die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung is the central work of the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer The first edition was published in 181819 the second expanded edition in 1844 and the third expanded edition in 1859 In 1948 an abridged version was edited by Thomas Mann The development of Schopenhauers ideas took place very early in his career 18141818 and culminated in the publication of the first volume of ...