Is Schopenhauer's philosophy overly pessimistic?
My philosophy might appear pessimistic, but I present it as a clear-eyed recognition of the world's inherent nature. If the fundamental driving force of existence is a blind, striving Will that inevitably leads to suffering, then to ignore this truth in favor of facile optimism is a form of self-deception. My aim is not to wallow in despair, but to offer a path towards a measure of peace and liberation from this suffering, through aesthetic contemplation and asceticism, by momentarily silencing the Will.
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