From the Unconscious to the Conscious 



M. Finot takes in turn the dominant note in the 

 state of mind evidenced by the literatures, the philosophies 

 and the religions of all times and all places, and finds 

 everywhere and always the same pessimism out- 

 weighing the optimism of the few who are happy or 

 illusionised. 



The works of Schopenhauer merely condense all this 

 general pessimism. His philosophy, which sums up the 

 truths known to his time, and is their natural and true 

 expression, could not but be pessimist. ' To work and 

 suffer in order to live; to live in order to work and 

 suffer,' seemed to him the emblem, not of humanity only, 

 but of all life. 



Since Schopenhauer, new truths have illuminated 

 natural philosophy; evolution has been the leading idea. 



What are its conclusions to be ? Will they also 

 yield to pessimism ? Do they allow us a rational antici- 

 pation of a reign of happiness ? 



For von Hartmann, evolution and pessimism go 

 together. 



M. Harald Hoffding 1 remarks: 



' The ethic of Hartman is closely connected with 

 his pessimistic theories. He sees an inevitable 

 incompatibility between civilisation and happiness. 

 The progress of civilisation is marked by a reduction 

 of happiness. The more complicated the mechanism 

 of life becomes, the more chances of misfortune 

 there are. Sensibility to pain becomes greater, and 

 increasing capacity for thought only perceives 

 illusions the more surely. Civilisation increases 

 wants more rapidly than the means of satisfying 

 them. Therefore it becomes necessary to choose 

 between civilisation and happiness between the 

 theory of civilisation and that of happiness. Happiness 

 presupposes calm and peace, and for this reason 



1 Harald Hoffding : Histoire de la Philosophic Moderne. 



293 x 



