A DEFENCE OF PESSIMISM.

Otago Witness, Issue 2695, 8 November 1905, Page 68

A DEFENCE OF PESSIMISM.

By David Irvine,

London : Watts & Co. Dunedin : E. J. Stark & Co. and Whitcombe & Tombs

(Limited). 2s.

Some cynic has said that a pessimist is one who, with a choice between two evils, takes both. It has been much better said (by Mr C 4. M. Trevelyan, in the Hibbert Journal) that i — " Optimism and pessimism are each derived from an overpowering vision of one-half the truth. Either can lead to violent misconduct in thought and practice, or else to besotted resignation. Yet either can produce the most inspired masterpieces both of poetry and of active life. They are a maduess, sometimes diabolic, but sometimes divine. Often both enter together and inhabit the soul of one, such as Dante ; or both are found in one creed, as in that of his Paradise and Inferno." Mr Irvine has written a strong and suggestive essay, but it is not likely that Schopenhauer's philosophy will ever become popular among our people. Our national bias leans towards an optimistic rather than a pessimistic view of life, and * few are the persons who make any serious ..attempt to balance the. claims of opposing theories. Probably no final judgment is possible where the facts are numerous beyond conception, and necessarily become distorted because they have to be viewed in the ligh.fc.of each individual's experience. The author has at last made a determined effort to remove some of . the misconceptions of. Schopenhauer's life and teaching which have marred the work of British 'critics ; and his success, if not complete, has been considerable. He makes it clear that although a pessimist, Schopenhauer was not a' misanthrope. First-hand testimony is adduced to ; show that he was a kindly old gentleman* who could enjoy the , comforts of life, and whose"-, philosophy. , did not cause him to be -miserable. Sehjcip-. enhauer's philosophy has \so eonimorilvi been- treated" as the outcome ' of a selfish; and morally diseased nature that'^JMt? ; Irvine's corrective of 1 this impression shoji ld?, -do something' towards placing a brilliant' writer in a more favourable light. The secret of the hostility shown in Britain towards Schopenhauer appears to be- his unsparing criticism of that orthodoxy which is one of the hall-marks of British respectability.- Mr Irvine shows the in- ■ justice of this, and . also, what is, ..widely perceived, but seldom. alluded-Jto — f<hat' 'the pessimistic spirit is an essential eleWenjb in the orthodox religioiis creed. Accordingto current conceptions, ' often loosely ' held and ill thought out no doubt, the future "outlook is pretty- black for most' .of us. : However, on the "most dismal assumption, -there is no need to sit down as cowards. '" Even if the universe is a prison, and this "planet one of the worst wards, that does not make prison reform any the less a real duty." In spite of occasional futilities .of reasoning -and a decided tendency to .discursiveness, Mr .Irvine's vigorously expressed -arguments are worthy of careful • attention. His earnestness is refreshing, and his critical ability, though somewhat lacking in restraint, is of no mean, order ; while his evident knowledge of. the subject entitles him to rank as an authoritative exponent of a philosophy to which British thought has so far failed tc render due honour.