Through books I've read I've seen a strange connection between sadness and philosophy. Almost no famous philosopher was optimistic (besides at an idealistic level) and almost all of them had a pessimistic view over the world.

So I'm asking you, if there really is a connection between sadness and philosophy and why.

Through books I've read I've seen a strange connection between sadness and philosophy. Almost no famous philosopher was optimistic (besides at an idealistic level) and almost all of them had a pessimistic view over the world.

So I'm asking you, if there really is a connection between sadness and philosophy and why.

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It depends on many factors as to why many Philosophers seem to have a pessimistic and negative broad outlook on life, observing others behaviours as well as criticizing their own. One who tends to reflect deeply on worldly wise matters, seems to delve and understand human suffering and to majority of people they may be viewed as introspective or thinking more internally in their own world/lost in their own thoughts in constrast to being more extroverted, or not thinking as deeper and a stereotypical broad view they are more sociable and tend to be easily influenced by their own crowd.

Which philosopher have you come across that particularly has a pessimistic world view?

It depends on many factors as to why many Philosophers seem to have a pessimistic and negative broad outlook on life, observing others behaviours as well as criticizing their own. One who tends to reflect deeply on worldly wise matters, seems to delve and understand human suffering and to majority of people they may be viewed as introspective or thinking more internally in their own world/lost in their own thoughts in constrast to being more extroverted, or not thinking as deeper and a stereotypical broad view they are more sociable and tend to be easily influenced by their own crowd.

Which philosopher have you come across that particularly has a pessimistic world view?

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I 'll agree with you Gabriel(at least for the modern philosophers). I don't know and i haven't read many philosophers but i think that most of them were pessimistic. The role of the philosophers is to educate other people and try to make a better world. In my opinion these people become pessimistic when they see the big difference between them and the rest of the world. When they understand that very very few people can understand them. When they understand that finally they can't change the world alone.
Although this doesn't happen with all of them. I could easily claim that Socrates was not like this(that's why i said about the modern philosophers before). Even before his death he was sure that with his acts he was helping people. He thought that his death would make good in the Athenian society.

I 'll agree with you Gabriel(at least for the modern philosophers). I don't know and i haven't read many philosophers but i think that most of them were pessimistic. The role of the philosophers is to educate other people and try to make a better world. In my opinion these people become pessimistic when they see the big difference between them and the rest of the world. When they understand that very very few people can understand them. When they understand that finally they can't change the world alone.
Although this doesn't happen with all of them. I could easily claim that Socrates was not like this(that's why i said about the modern philosophers before). Even before his death he was sure that with his acts he was helping people. He thought that his death would make good in the Athenian society.

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I don't know if there is a statistically significant correlation or not. I am no sure such a study has ever been done. But I think the more you delve into the realm of philosophy, the more apt you are to find that you are no more important to this world than the ant the exterminator killed yesterday.

We all carry our own worth. But sooner or later, someone will come along who will excel on yours, be it before or after your death.

When we see the insignificance of life on the grand scale of things, it is hard to be optimistic. But if you stay grounded in reality enough, you enjoy life for whatever brief time you have despite the meaningless of it. Live it and love it.

I don't know if there is a statistically significant correlation or not. I am no sure such a study has ever been done. But I think the more you delve into the realm of philosophy, the more apt you are to find that you are no more important to this world than the ant the exterminator killed yesterday.

We all carry our own worth. But sooner or later, someone will come along who will excel on yours, be it before or after your death.

When we see the insignificance of life on the grand scale of things, it is hard to be optimistic. But if you stay grounded in reality enough, you enjoy life for whatever brief time you have despite the meaningless of it. Live it and love it.

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I have never thought about it in that terms darqfall, but you actually got sumin there.Even the humor philosophers were a bit sarcastic and satirical.
So maybe we are all harbingers of doom and tatlers of gloom...lol

I have never thought about it in that terms darqfall, but you actually got sumin there.Even the humor philosophers were a bit sarcastic and satirical.
So maybe we are all harbingers of doom and tatlers of gloom...lol

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knowing the truth of things hurts....slowly slowly you allow truth to hurt you as you continue knowing more...

The massive added effect would result in an overall sad personality ...

knowing the truth of things hurts....slowly slowly you allow truth to hurt you as you continue knowing more...

The massive added effect would result in an overall sad personality ...

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It is better to know the truth, than deceive one's self by being naive all their life, however with this truth, one can try and achieve a more positive outlook on how why truth happens and what help can be provided to others, if they genuinely require it.

Not understanding the world, and others properly can leave them vulnerable or susceptible to exploitation by others and themselves.

It is better to know the truth, than deceive one's self by being naive all their life, however with this truth, one can try and achieve a more positive outlook on how why truth happens and what help can be provided to others, if they genuinely require it.

Not understanding the world, and others properly can leave them vulnerable or susceptible to exploitation by others and themselves.

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I find myself agreeing with you Soph and Rom...
There is a peace in ignorance and simplicity.I sometimes wonder if i would have been better off not knowing the things i know. I end up questioning and second guessing myself because of this.
However, i also realize that there is wisdom both in knowing the truth and naivety.What you dont know cant hurt you and what you know offers protection.

I find myself agreeing with you Soph and Rom...
There is a peace in ignorance and simplicity.I sometimes wonder if i would have been better off not knowing the things i know. I end up questioning and second guessing myself because of this.
However, i also realize that there is wisdom both in knowing the truth and naivety.What you dont know cant hurt you and what you know offers protection.

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Do you believe that: All scientists and mathematicians are philosophers and not all philosophers are scientists and mathematicians.

If these were so, then one cannot generalize a connection between sadness and philosophy. Because most of the scientists have philosophical humor and happiness in discovering new things.

Do you believe that: All scientists and mathematicians are philosophers and not all philosophers are scientists and mathematicians.

If these were so, then one cannot generalize a connection between sadness and philosophy. Because most of the scientists have philosophical humor and happiness in discovering new things.

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I think the connection is not sadness but isolation or seclusion. Because most of them love to think alone. The enthusiasm of knowing and discovering something yields excitement, patience, happiness.

sadness lessened the ability to think.

I think the connection is not sadness but isolation or seclusion. Because most of them love to think alone. The enthusiasm of knowing and discovering something yields excitement, patience, happiness.

sadness lessened the ability to think.

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