How did Schopenhauer view the problem of suffering?
Suffering is not an anomaly but an intrinsic aspect of existence, stemming directly from the nature of the Will. This relentless striving for something that is never permanently attained leads to constant dissatisfaction. Life oscillates like a pendulum between pain and boredom. When we are deprived, we suffer from want; when our desires are temporarily satisfied, we fall into tedium and ennui, which is itself a form of suffering. True alleviation lies not in seeking more satisfaction, but in finding ways to quiet the Will's incessant demands.
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