Arthur Schopenhauer describes the will-to-life as the inherent driving force behind all human beings to stay alive and reproduce. This gives rise to suffering. Examples include marriage where picking a partner based on compatibility is overridden by having the ideal offspring. In this, Schopenhauer was ahead of his time—describing evolution as ‘the composition of the next generation’.
Links to this note
-
German philosopher and pessimist, best known for ‘The World as Will and Representation’ where he describes the will-to-life as the overriding force that compels humans and leads to suffering. His work and philosophies have parallels with Buddhist teachings such as the rejection of the concept of self (ego) and the essence of suffering.