ValyrianJedi t1_isdbwkq wrote on October 15, 2022 at 2:21 AM

Reply to comment by SpacelandSam in Schopenhauer and the insatiable will to live | To reduce suffering and forge a better world we must resist desire and our metaphysical individualism. by IAI_Admin

We aren't in a natural setting with limited resources, and haven't been for an extremely long time though... That just seems like a massive stretch to me.

SpacelandSam t1_isdj3ub wrote on October 15, 2022 at 3:24 AM

That’s the point though. We still have the will-to-live mentality despite having transcended that survival state. It’s not possible for most animals to deny their Will, because they still exist in that state; humans alone have that freedom, yet we don’t use it. Many of us still exist with a will-to-live- not necessarily “kill or be killed,” but with the goal of instant gratification.

The author is arguing we have a responsibility to control our desires (will-to-live) BECAUSE we aren’t in that natural setting.