We explore Schopenhauer's pessimism as a philosophical position and ask the question: can Schopenhauer ground his pessimism in the nature of reality?

The first in a mini-series on what Nietzsche called "Life-Denying Philosophies," in this episode we consider the thoroughly pessimistic philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer. Is his thoroughgoing pessimism and life-denying perspective... wisdom or sickness (or something else)?

Works Referenced in this Episode:

Arthur Schopenhauer, The World as Will and Representation

Ācārāṅga Sūtra, translated by Hermann Jacobi, Jaina Sutras, 1884

Herman Hesse, Siddhartha

WWW.GODSWILLBEGODS.COM

'Cosmic Meaning' is a term used in recent philosophical literature to refer to an objective reason for which life was brought into existence (i.e., an objective meaning of life). We want to ask: is there a cosmic meaning? Is life part of some grand plan? But first we must ask: what are the stakes of the question? Why does it matter?

Books read from or otherwise referenced in this episode:

Nietzsche, The Basic Writings of Nietzsche

Nietzsche, The Gay Science

Schopenhauer, The World as Will and Representation, Volume 1

Schopenhauer, The World as Will and Representation, Volume 2

Kerouac, Desolation Angels

Shakespeare, Macbeth

Episode 1 (Cosmic Meaning and Salvation) out on November 1st.