Basement Whatever

History tells us that the philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer threw a woman down the stairs in a fit of anger that his thinking was interrupted when she insisted on talking in the hallway outside his door. The story is used repeatedly to help us understand Schopenhauer’s character.

The problem is, it’s not true. So how did it become accepted knowledge? This article traces the story from its origin, to its development, and finally to its acceptance as canon.

Schopenhauer lived a long time ago, this story is of interest mainly to people who follow philosophy. For modern readers, what’s interesting is how a dishonest myth gets shaped, which we can certainly apply to stories in our own times. More here.