Philosophical pessimism is a philosophical school that is critical of existence, emphasizing the inherent suffering and futility of life. This perspective can be traced back to various religious traditions and philosophical writings throughout history.
Notable early expressions of pessimistic thought can be found in the works of ancient philosophers such as Hegesias of Cyrene and in the Indian texts of Buddhism. However, the modern discourse on philosophical pessimism is significantly shaped by the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer[1]: 4 , whose ideas in the 19th century articulated a systematic critique of philosophical optimism.
Subsequent thinkers, such as Emil Cioran and David Benatar, further developed pessimistic thought and challenged optimistic stances.