Dark Matters: Pessimism and the Problem of Suffering

Dark Matters is an intellectual history of the philosophers who grappled with the problem of evil and the case for why pessimism still holds moral value for us today. It traces the competing philosophical traditions of optimism and pessimism from early modern debates and makes a compelling case for the rediscovery of pessimism as a source for compassion, consolation, and hope. Mara van der Lugt discusses legendary figures such as Leibniz, Hume, Voltaire, Rousseau, Kant, and Schopenhauer, as well as less familiar names, such as Bayle, King, La Mettrie, and Maupertuis. She reveals how the earliest optimists and pessimists were divided over what an answer to the question of the value of existence should look like and how the crucial moral aim of pessimism is to find a way of speaking about suffering that offers consolation and does justice to the fragility of life.

Format: Hardback
Length: 472 pages
Publication date: 21 September 2021
Publisher: Princeton University Press

In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, philosophers engaged in heated debates on the question of how God could have allowed evil and suffering in a creation that is supposedly good. This philosophical inquiry, known as the problem of evil, has continued to captivate thinkers throughout history. Dark Matters delves into the origins and evolution of the competing philosophical traditions of optimism and pessimism, which emerged from early modern debates about the problem of evil. By tracing the development of these traditions, Mara van der Lugt offers a compelling case for the rediscovery of pessimism as a source for compassion, consolation, and even hope.

The book brings to life one of the most vibrant eras in the history of philosophy, focusing on legendary figures such as Leibniz, Hume, Voltaire, Rousseau, Kant, and Schopenhauer. It also introduces readers to less familiar names, such as Bayle, King, La Mettrie, and Maupertuis. Van der Lugt not only explores how the earliest optimists and pessimists were deeply concerned with finding an answer to the question of the value of existence that does justice to the reality of human suffering, but also how they were fundamentally divided over what such an answer should look like.

A breathtaking work of intellectual history, Dark Matters reveals how the crucial moral aim of pessimism is to find a way of speaking about suffering that offers consolation and does justice to the fragility of life. Through her meticulous research and insightful analysis, van der Lugt demonstrates that pessimism can provide a valuable perspective on the human condition, offering a means of grappling with the challenges and uncertainties of existence.

In conclusion, Dark Matters is a must-read for anyone interested in philosophy, ethics, and the human condition. It offers a profound exploration of the problem of evil and the competing philosophical traditions that have emerged in response to it. By presenting a compelling case for the rediscovery of pessimism as a source for compassion, consolation, and hope, van der Lugt provides a valuable contribution to the ongoing dialogue about the nature of morality and the value of existence.

Weight: 932g
Dimension: 166 x 242 x 40 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691206622