Schopenhauer

SchopenhauerPart1:theend,thecountenanceandtheessenceoflifePart2:QuantitativepainComparisionEndlessspaceandtimeV.S.Finiteplaceandduration(boundlessness)(boundness)Part1•Exitence=Acontinualrushingofthepresentintothedeadpast=aconstantdying•Life=nothingbutaconstantlypreventeddying•Alternessandactivityofourmind=acontinuouslypostponedboredomoredomSimile•Deathplayswithitspreyonlyforawhilebeforeswallowingitup.•Wecontinueourlifewithgreatinterestandmuchsolicitudeaslongaspossible,justasweblowoutasoap-bubbleaslongandaslargeaspossible,whichisdoomedtoburst,though.Striving•WhyandHowcanmankindcontinuetheirlifewithgreatinterestandmuchsolicitudeaslongaspossibleeventhoughtheyknowthatdeathhasbybirthbecometheirlot?NosomuchtheloveoflifeastheFearofDeathWill→livingbodywiththeironcommand↓TheforcecomesfromStriving,ortheobjectifiedwill-to-liveitself.Life’swholeessenceWillingandStrivingNeed,lackandhencepainDestinedtopainFearfulemptinessandboredomcomingoverunsatisfiedsatisfiedSwingBetweenPain&boredomPain&Boredom:theUltimateconstituentsoflifeObjectificationofwillMan=concretewillingandneeding(liveinuncertaintyexcepthisneedandmisery)CareforthemaintenanceofexistenceandthepropagationoftheraceduringthewholelifeCallsforStriving!Conflict(war)andcivilizationemergefromman’spursuitofexistenceandpropagationofhisraceforathousandaccidentsandathousandenemieslieinwaitforhim,whichcallsforhisconstantvigilanceandself-improvement(striving).Shiftbacktotheendoflife•Thelifeofthegreatmajorityisonlyaconstantstruggleforthisexistencewiththecertaintyofultimatelylosingit.•Lifeitselfisaseafullofrocksandwhirlpoolsthatmanavoidswiththegreatestcautionandcare.Evenwhenhesucceedswithallhiseffortsandingenuityinstrugglingthrough,ateverystephecomesnearertotheinevitableandirremediableshipwreck,indeedsteersrightonit,namelydeath.Lifeisaworrisomevoyageofwhichthefinalgoalisdeath.ExistenceGetridofboredomassuredunassuredStriving/strugglingInmotionWantandsufferingDiversionandamusementrelaxationBoredomSeverestpunishmentBringtheconvictstosuicideFlowonbetweenwillingandattainment•EveryhumanlifeistossedbackwardsandforwardsbetweenpainandboredomattainmentSatiety(boredom)Wish(pain)•Everyattainedsatisfactiondoesnotreallysatisfyus,butoftenstandsbeforeusasamortifyingerror.Thuswehastentoeverfreshdesire.Weuntiringlystrivefromdesiretodesire.Part2•Theceaselesseffortstobanishsuffering(pain)achievenothingmorethanachangeinitsform.UnavoidableForm:sexualimpulse,passionatelove,jealousy,envy,hatred,anxiety,ambition,avarice,sicknessandsoon.Onetackled,othersfollow/supersede.Inevitableandessential.Howtobehappy?•Werecognizetheinevitabilityofsufferingsanditssupplantingtrick:ButsuchapowerfulcontrolofthefacultyofreasonoverdirectlyfeltsufferingisseldomorneverfoundinfactAconsiderabledegreeofstoicalequanimityproducedAnxiousconcernaboutourwelfaregreatlyreducedHowtobehappy?•Paradox/hypothesis:themeasureofthepainessentialtomanhasbeendeterminedonceforallbyhisnature•Disposition/temperament•Support:intheabsenceofthegreatsufferingseventhesmallestvexationsandannoyancestormentus.•HappinessandpainonlyoccurataninstantbutsoondisappearHowtobehappy?•Humancheerfulnessordejectionisnotdeterminedbyexternalcircumstances(delusion/thepretextofpainwhicheveryoneislookingforandfalselyregardsastherootcauseofpain),butshouldbeattributedtothechangeininternalstate,subjectivelydeterminedbyourhypothesis.•Freethemindfromsuchdelusionanditsconsequences•不以物喜，不以已悲•Ourcapacityforpainandhappiness•Joyandpainconditioneachother•Joyandpainarebroughtaboutbyanticipationofthefuture.•PainisessentialtolifeandisalsodeterminedasregardsitsdegreebythenatureofthesubjectHowweultimatelybecomereconciledtoourexistenceandfate?CometoknowledgethatthesufferingisessentialandthetruesatisfactionisimpossibleHowtobehappy?Methods:1.Reducesthesufferingoccasionedbyboth(desireandsatisfaction)tothesmallestamount,andconstitutesthehappiestlife;2.Acknowledgetheinevitabilityofpainandtheimpossibilityoftruesatisfaction;3.Disposition(determinedbynature)enlargeyourcapacityforthetoleranceofsuffering;4.Recognizetherespectiverolestheexternalcircumstancesandinternalstateplay.Freethemindfromsuchdelusionanditsconsequences.ConclusionPessimism1.Inevitabilityofdeath.2.Inevitabilityofpain.3.Theboringandtorturingessenceoflife.4.Thehappiestlifeistheleastpainfulone.