Hedgehog's dilemma

The porcupine is a parabola, which was published in 1851 by Arthur Schopenhauer in Parerga and Paralipomena with other Aphorisms on the Wisdom of Life.

Content

On a cold day a group of porcupines developed a nasty heat all need. To satisfy it, they seek the mutual closeness. But the closer they move against each other, the more pain the spines of the neighbors. However, since the moving apart is reconnected to freezing, they change their distance until they have the most tolerable distance found.

Interpretation

In general, the optimization of a complex situation is described, however, Arthur Schopenhauer provides the connection to the narrative own interpretation to: The porcupines represent the people. Your need for solidarity and community, they can close their fellow men are looking for. At the same time however, they are repelled by their bad character traits.

The tension between these two poles is made by the commandment of politeness and manners ( to rules, laws, etc.) a balance. Thus, the solidarity need not be perfect, but only so far satisfied that the advantage (heat, Eintracht ) the now obligatory associated disadvantage ( spines, armed ) still predominates. Next interpreted the way Herrücken the porcupines could also be interpreted as the search for a good form of government, or as a strategy for dealing with authority figures.