Most of the
philosophy of despair, the longing to know the meaning of the
unattainable, vanishes with active out-of-door life and the consequent
flow of good health. Even a dose of quinine may convert to hopefulness
when both sermons and arguments fail.
For a degree of optimism is a necessary accompaniment of health. It is
as natural as animal heat, and is the mental reflex of it. Pessimism
arises from depression or irritation or failure of the nerves. It is a
symptom of lowered vitality expressed in terms of the mind.
There is a philosophical Pessimism, as I have already said, over and
above all merely physical conditions, and not dependent on them. But the
melancholy Jacques of our ordinary experience either uses some narcotic
or stimulant to excess, or else has trouble with his liver or kidneys.
"Liver complaint," says Zangwill, "is the Prometheus myth done into
modern English." Already historical criticism has shown that the Bloody
Assizes had its origin in disease of the bladder, and most forms of vice
and cruelty resolve themselves into decay of the nerves. It is natural
that degeneration should bring discouragement and disgust. But whatever
the causes of Pessimism, whether arising in speculative philosophy in
nervous disease or in personal failure, it can never be wrought into
sound and helpful life. To live effectively implies the belief that life
is worth living, and no one who leads a worthy life has ever for a
moment doubted this.
Pages:
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31