Thanks for sharing this! Likely this is a pretty basic primer for anyone who has read Schopenhauer, but as someone who has not - it was an enjoyable and concise read. The idea that humans alone enjoy this special liberty of self-reflection and thus the ability to suppress our desires to relieve ourselves from suffering is interesting and in historically good company. The solution's implementation seems a little flat, but maybe there's only so much you can go into in a little blog post.
One thought that comes to mind is that the author states Schopenhauer finds this system of self-consumption to be sort of depressing, repugnant, and saddening. If an animal (basically a being driven and defined by Will) kills another animal, then arguably the only thing that was lost is another being of Will. So why should this suffering be regrettable, if the being that suffered was effectively just a manifestation of this thing we don't like anyway?
I also find it profoundly sad personally, but wonder what he (or you!) might say in response to this question. Maybe it's only a problem because it affects humans who have the ability to see outside of the law of Will? Maybe many beings have this capacity to varying extent?
Even if you don't find the endless cycle of suffering to be problematic, I guess it would not necessarily detract from the potential benefits of stepping out of this cycle.
potato-Mk1 t1_isatsy6 wrote
Reply to Schopenhauer and the insatiable will to live | To reduce suffering and forge a better world we must resist desire and our metaphysical individualism. by IAI_Admin
Thanks for sharing this! Likely this is a pretty basic primer for anyone who has read Schopenhauer, but as someone who has not - it was an enjoyable and concise read. The idea that humans alone enjoy this special liberty of self-reflection and thus the ability to suppress our desires to relieve ourselves from suffering is interesting and in historically good company. The solution's implementation seems a little flat, but maybe there's only so much you can go into in a little blog post.
One thought that comes to mind is that the author states Schopenhauer finds this system of self-consumption to be sort of depressing, repugnant, and saddening. If an animal (basically a being driven and defined by Will) kills another animal, then arguably the only thing that was lost is another being of Will. So why should this suffering be regrettable, if the being that suffered was effectively just a manifestation of this thing we don't like anyway?
I also find it profoundly sad personally, but wonder what he (or you!) might say in response to this question. Maybe it's only a problem because it affects humans who have the ability to see outside of the law of Will? Maybe many beings have this capacity to varying extent?
Even if you don't find the endless cycle of suffering to be problematic, I guess it would not necessarily detract from the potential benefits of stepping out of this cycle.