Schopenhauer on Pessimism

Present Schopenhauer’s arguments for his pessimism. What does he mean when he claims this is the ‘worst of all possible worlds’? Do you find his reasoning convincing?

What is the sentiment that this is “the worst of all possible worlds” seemingly in response to?

A critical response to Leinz’s “best of all possible worlds” claim in his defense of optimism

Why does Schopenhauer think that this is the best of all possible worlds?

This world is the worst it could possibly be while still functioning. If it were to be even a little worse, it would not be able to function and would cease to be a world

Schopenhauer argues that life consists of what?

and endless cycle of suffering caused by the will

According to Schopenhauer, all life is what?

All life is willing and all willing is suffering

We are all beings that have desires; once those desires are satisfied, it gives way to what?

New desires that must be satisfied

Willing is experienced as what?

painful, a conscious lack, wanting or dependence

Desiring is experienced as painful, yet the process and effort it takes to satisfy those desires is experienced as what?

unpleasant and a state of suffering

Finally, once our desires are satisfied, we enter a new state of suffering called what?

ennui or boredom

The suffering caused by ennui can only be dispelled by what?

the occurrence of a new desire

Schopenhauer thinks that life swings like what?

life swings like a pendulum between pain and ennui

Why does Schopenhauer think that happiness or satisfaction is only ever negative?

Because satisfaction only ever exists as the negation of or releif from pain

Why can satisfaction and happiness not be understood positively?

Because it is always conditioned by some antecedent of pain and cannot occur originally or of itself

If we assume that happiness is simply a return to zero, what conclusion can we draw?

That happiness or pleasure cannot compensate for any amount of suffering

Schopenhauer thinks that his negative view of happiness is confirmed through the “three great blessings in life”” What are these blessings

Health, youth and freedom

Why do the three great blessings in life confirm Schopenhauer’s negative view of happiness?

We are not conscious of these blessings until they are lost.

According to Schopenhauer, the three great blessings in life; health, youth and freedom, exist as negations of what?

illness, old age and enslavement

How does Schopenhauer overlook certain pleasures that can be derived from the will?

Schopenhauer overlooks that pleasure can be derived from the pursuit of goals or enjoyment of the “climb” rather than the destination

How can the pursuit of goals not always be contingent on suffering?

The pleasure of passion can outweigh the suffering or effort it requires.