Philosophical pessimism isn’t all doom and gloom: it’s about explaining and confronting the origins, prevalence and the ubiquity of suffering.
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Pessimism, as explored by the philosopher Schopenhauer, offers tools to come to terms with the idea that refusing to relentlessly pursue happiness is perhaps the most reasonable attitude.
‘God, I’m just so bored.’
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Over two centuries. the notion of boredom has shifted from an upper-class malady, through existential peril, to a functional emotion.
It’s a mad world, but some listening to some of the world’s great thinkers might help you make sense of it.
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How to deal with a world that is going a bit off-kilter? Some classic texts can give a few pointers.