Philosophical pessimism: A denial of history as progress

JR5

JR5

Other Christian
The below post argues that a philosophy of pessimism allows one to live in the moment without expectation for what the future will bring, unlike philosophical optimism ("whig history") which demands one to believe in history-as-progress, which doesn't happen and hence one is continuously disappointed.

https://neofeudalreview.substack.com/p/philosophical-pessimism-a-denial

There are basically two responses to philosophical pessimism, one embodied by Schopenhauer (ascetic withdrawal) and the other by Nietzsche (embracing Heraclitian continual change), but philosophical pessimism has much in common with both Orthodox Christianity and with Buddhism.
 
This is contradictory. Being pessimistic isn't living in the moment, because it's not a neutral position. A pessimist expects negative outcomes, an optimist positive. Living in the moment is a neutral position, because, as you correctly stated, there are no expectations.
 
The philosophical pessimist acknowledges that life is full of suffering but offers no solution. The optimist denies the suffering using his imagination.

Buddhism doesn’t label events as good or bad, but accepts whatever happens with tranquility. The Christian is grateful to God for every experience whether the outcomes are good or bad.
 
Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.

All of history will culminate in good for the Christian and bad for the reprobate.
 
Kind of a follow up:

A Philosophy of Decay: Emil Cioran and the Boundaries of Pessimistic Thought​

This essay explores Emil Cioran’s philosophy, revealing how his reflections on pessimism, suffering, and the human condition offer a radical form of freedom. Through his life and aphorisms, Cioran challenges conventional views of hope, progress, and meaning, proposing that by confronting life’s inherent absurdity and decay one can break free from the pressure of expectations. Without the burden of progress or idealized outcomes, life becomes more open to unexpected joys and surprises, offering a unique path to liberation. In this way, Cioran's thought serves as a guide to living without the constraints of conventional optimism, embracing life in all its complexity and unpredictability.

https://neofeudalreview.substack.com/p/a-philosophy-of-decay-emil-cioran
 
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