Comparison of the concepts of pessimism in Schopenhauer and affirmation of life in Nietzsche

In this study, an interpretation of Schopenhauer and Nietzsche's philosophy is discussed. Within the framework of this interpretation, the concepts of pessimism and affirmation of life, which are two important discourses of these two philosophers, are focused on. Schopenhauer's philosophy is generally characterized by a pessimistic line. This study also included, in addition to accepting the aforementioned interpretation, the aspects of Schopenhauer that differed from pessimism and the ways out that he presented to us. As for Nietzsche, it was thought that he placed the importance of life on the basis of his philosophy, and in this context, his basic concepts were discussed through the discourse of affirmation of life. Schopenhauer determines the general framework of his philosophy with two important discourses such as will and representation. Apart from having common approaches with Kant, Plato and Buddhism, Schopenhauer puts forward a unique philosophy. Schopenhauer was particularly influenced by Far Eastern Mysticism and his emphasis on the "Tat Twam Asi" discourse, meaning "it is you", is very evident. Through this discourse, Schopenhauer has created his own ethics of compassion and has drawn a more understandable route for us. His ethics of compassion, which he built on empathizing with people, shows itself as one of the most important aspects of getting rid of egoism and the influence of the principle of individuation in this way. This understanding of ethics, on the other hand, becomes an approach that allows us to understand that Schopenhauer's pessimistic line disappears and that apart from individual behaviour, all existence is essentially one and the same thing. Nietzsche, on the other hand, confronts almost all philosophy before him, and thinks that life has always been humiliated until now. According to Nietzsche, the only possibility we have is life, and therefore life should be affirmed, and in this way, the body should be brought to the forefront instead of the soul, and the individual instead of society. He has revealed the way of being an individual and how man can be truly free, and he has tried to realize this within himself through his projects like the Superman.