Very Bad Wizards Episode 315: Ceaseless Striving (Schopenhauer’s Pessimism)
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Sep 2, 2025 The hosts humorously reflect on aging and milestone birthdays, blending personal anecdotes with philosophical musings. They expertly navigate Schopenhauer's pessimism, exploring human suffering, desire, and compassion. A light-hearted blind ranking of film directors adds fun to the mix, with debates on cinematic legends like Kurosawa and Scorsese. The conversation delves into existential themes, the nature of time, and the significance of relationships, ultimately highlighting life's complexities amidst our shared struggles.
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Blind Ranking Birthday Game
- Tamler and David open with a blind ranking game where Tamler ranks ten film directors live.
- The segment reveals personal tastes and playful rivalry that segues into the Schopenhauer discussion.
Eastern Influence On Schopenhauer
- Schopenhauer drew early from Eastern texts like the Upanishads and Buddhist thought.
- These influences shaped his emphasis on asceticism, denial of will, and philosophical pessimism.
Will As The Thing-In-Itself
- Schopenhauer blends Kantian epistemology with a metaphysical 'will' as the thing-in-itself.
- That will is aimless, blind, and drives ceaseless striving, which forms the basis of his pessimism.
