#154 Thoughts in Quarantine: Charlie- Unraveling Pessimism

Show Notes  According to my calculations at the time of this recording on May 27, 2020, we are in our 11th week of quarantine. How have you managed in the disconcerting time? You know for me, this time has provided, or forced, an opportunity a deep philosophical thought. For instance I have been reading Kierkegaard, Schopenhauer, Viktor Frankl and TS Eliot. Whew! I think I’m in the mood for the calamities of a pleasant John Grisham novel. Today, Paul, I’d like to initiate a two-week series on Thoughts in Quarantine, instead of Conversations in Quarantine. I’d like to begin with the series with you and me discussing two related philosophies: One, on the subject of Desire and Boredom and Two, on the Necessity of Suffering. Next week, Terry Hershey will take over the mic and interview me on the unexpected gifts this quarantine has allotted me. Desire and Suffering, today’s topics, are rooted in the pessimistic viewpoints of philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (b 1788-d 1860) and his demandingly thoughtful book On the Suffering of the World. For more with Charlie Hedges please visit www.thenextchapter.life