I
think it is good to isolate the idea of pessimism from other terms
that are often conflated with it such as "hard-nosed realism",
"defeatism", "nihilism", and "existentialism";
these terms are related but not identical to the ideas behind
philosophical pessimism itself.
In general, philosophical pessimism posits a metaphysical restlessness behind the scenes of phenomenal experience, but is felt immediately in the subject by his/her own experience of unrest. This unrest is characterized by strivings, discomfort, pain, and boredom. According to Schopenhauer, happiness is really a negative in that it is simply the temporary cessation of the "normal" state of discomfort. I think this understanding may be felt keenly by people who have independently experienced existential anguish. One doesn't have to read Schop to feel this way- he is just a Western philosopher who put it into a very concrete and systematic formulation that, to many readers, makes intuitive sense. Pessimism as a vague concept that life is "not that great" is at least as old as civilization itself and can be found as far back as Near Eastern Wisdom literature c. 3,000 BCE and is certainly seen in Eastern Philosophy. There are definitely elements of it in some Greco-Roman philosophies as well (as recognized by Schopenhauer himself).
This is not a novel concept, but perhaps, as civilization(s) allow the average person in society to free up their time and become more individualistic and keenly aware of their own existential situation, the hidden pessimistic stance that has always been there in many literary or philosophic circles moves to the forefront and becomes a natural stance that starts to make sense to a wider array of people. Antinatalism, another minority position that has been around for a long time, and succinctly articulated by Schopenhauer and other philosophical pessimists, has also started to gain traction as the natural ethical extension of the general philosophical pessimistic stance.
In general, philosophical pessimism posits a metaphysical restlessness behind the scenes of phenomenal experience, but is felt immediately in the subject by his/her own experience of unrest. This unrest is characterized by strivings, discomfort, pain, and boredom. According to Schopenhauer, happiness is really a negative in that it is simply the temporary cessation of the "normal" state of discomfort. I think this understanding may be felt keenly by people who have independently experienced existential anguish. One doesn't have to read Schop to feel this way- he is just a Western philosopher who put it into a very concrete and systematic formulation that, to many readers, makes intuitive sense. Pessimism as a vague concept that life is "not that great" is at least as old as civilization itself and can be found as far back as Near Eastern Wisdom literature c. 3,000 BCE and is certainly seen in Eastern Philosophy. There are definitely elements of it in some Greco-Roman philosophies as well (as recognized by Schopenhauer himself).
This is not a novel concept, but perhaps, as civilization(s) allow the average person in society to free up their time and become more individualistic and keenly aware of their own existential situation, the hidden pessimistic stance that has always been there in many literary or philosophic circles moves to the forefront and becomes a natural stance that starts to make sense to a wider array of people. Antinatalism, another minority position that has been around for a long time, and succinctly articulated by Schopenhauer and other philosophical pessimists, has also started to gain traction as the natural ethical extension of the general philosophical pessimistic stance.
The ruling establishment has a vested interest in keeping the system going by ensuring that the serving class remains optimistic. After all, happy citizens are more likely to do what they are told. The mass media will make certain everything remains properly uplifting for the “array of people”: pessimism has never ever been popular with the masses – and never will make sense to the horde.
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