Article - The advantages of pessimism

[Iron]

Before reading this article, I thought 'Is this guy really advocating negative thinking? What a load of rubbish!'

But the article does put forward some interesting ideas: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14506129

This bit in particular struck a chord with me: 'It is hope - with regard to our careers, our love lives, our children, our politicians and our planet - that is primarily to blame for angering and embittering us'.

Jeff

[lewismbet]

I would not advocate pessimism however I consider stoicism to be particularly useful, writers like Seneca in particular have caught my attention and are worth a read. Particularly for anyone who is potentially exposed to loss/risk/'chance'.

[Iron]

I like one of the comments in response to the article:

Optimism and pessimism are equally delusional states. Both derive from preoccupation with how things over which we have no influence will turn out, then foster emotional dependency on beliefs so formed. This is absurd - and reducing life to a choice between the two even more so.

Eastern philosophies such as Buddhism and Taoism avoid such false dichotomies. Peace comes when expectation ends...

Jeff