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There is some wisdom in taking a gloomy view, in looking upon the world as a kind of hell,

and in confining one's efforts to securing a little room that shall not be exposed to the fire. At the age of 21, the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche was browsing a bookstore

when he stumbled upon Arthur Schopenhauer's philosophical treaties,

the world as will and representation.

The chance discovery of this book would radically change Nietzsche's life,

or as he wrote,

I don't know what demon whispered to me, take this book home.

Back at home, I threw myself into the corner of a sofa with my new treasure, and began

to let that dynamic, dismal genius work on me.

Nietzsche was not the only great thinker influenced by Schopenhauer at an early

age. In his late teenage years, Carl Jung, searched for thinkers who could satisfy his intense thirst

for knowledge, and in his autobiography, memories, dreams, and reflections, he wrote that,

The great find resulting from my researches was Schopenhauer.

He was the first to speak of the suffering of the world, which visibly and glaringly surrounds

us, and of confusion, passion, evil.

Here at last was a philosopher who had the courage to see that all was not for the best

in the fundaments of the universe.

He spoke neither of the all-good and all-wise providence best in the fundaments of the universe. He spoke neither of the all-good

and all-wise providence of a creator, nor of the harmony of the cosmos, but stated bluntly

that a fundamental flaw underlay the sorrowful course of human history and the cruelty of nature.

In this video, we explore Schopenhauer's pessimistic view of the world and his thoughts on how to respond to the sufferings and evils of life.

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