> "Schopenhauer is in many ways peculiar among philosophers. He is a pessimist, whereas almost all the others are in some sense optimists." - Bertrand Russell

Schopenhauer derided Leibnitz for his 'systematic optimism' and criticised his prof Hegel on similar points. The realisation of the futility of 'Zweckoptimismus' (optimism to suit one's own needs) is an insight that moulded some of the best philosophers that followed Schopenhauer, not least his greatest student Nietzsche in his early years. The militant assertion of 'pessimism' was no doubt somewhat akin to Voltaire's ironic 'best of all possible worlds' too and must be seen in the context of the chronology of intellectual debate. The polarity between optimism and pessimism is clearly trickier than a cursory glance might suggest anyway. To start with, optimism is often seen as an imperative for moral reasons; this basic interest in the 'lie' of a life affirming stance is one that touches us all. And thus the assertion of pessimism also hides more than it reveals. One thing is for sure though, Schopenhauer sees comedy were Hegel and Nietzsche do not, even if it is comedy involving Mephistopheles and the selling of the soul.

At to the assertion that almost all other philosophers are optimists - see all Eastern works. These could, by Russell's measure, easily be written off as negative and pessimistic, for suffering is positioned front and centre. One must differentiate in order to tease apart the confusion in such arguments, these terms are otherwise used only in the most perfunctory way.