Single Idea 21469

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / F. Existentialism / 4. Boredom]

Full Idea

Human life must be some kind of mistake. ...Boredom is a direct proof that existence is in itself valueless, for boredom is nothing other than the sensation of the emptiness of existence.

Gist of Idea

Human life is a mistake, shown by boredom, which is direct awareness of the fact

Source

Arthur Schopenhauer (Parerga and Paralipomena [1851], XI:146)

Book Reference

Schopenhauer,Arthur: 'Essays and Aphorisms [from Pand P]', ed/tr. Hollingdale,R.J. [Penguin 1970], p.53


A Reaction

I think it is a good advertisement for existentialism that it makes something more out of boredom than Schopenhauer does.

Related Ideas

Idea 2114 This is the most perfect possible universe, in its combination of variety with order [Leibniz]

Idea 19439 God produces possibilities, and thus ideas [Leibniz]

Idea 12954 God's essence is the source of possibilities, and his will the source of existents [Leibniz]

Idea 19326 God must be intelligible, to select the actual world from the possibilities [Leibniz]