Do you read philosophy very much, fellow reader? You know what? Let me rephrase that in a more simple and modern way. Do you watch some advice guru’s TikTok or Youtube that claims to hold all the answers to success that you can get from his or her classes (which cost more than you can afford to spend by the way)? Have you ever seen those “self-help” books that offer some broad answers to your worries like “just breath” or “think about puppies”? Because, in my opinion, that kind of stuff compels in comparison to what actual philosophy is.
There’s this Romanian essayist that lived during the Twentieth Century that I just found out about not too long ago. His name is Emil Cioran, and if you were to read any of his works, one thing you would notice right away is how depressing and hopeless he sounds. For all his life, Cioran has struggled with suicidal thoughts. According to him, writing was what kept him from ending himself. This seems to be a good coping mechanism, considering that he lived to be 84.
While you might be reading this and think: “So what, this guy writes with the intent to make us all as miserable as him?” While I can see where you’re coming from, you need to look at his work on a deeper level. Some have said that, despite his works being filled with the topic of death and the problem with being born, they felt a kind of comfort reading his books. Emil encourages us to embrace the absurdity of life. Yes, he does say everything in life is meaningless, but in this argument, he asks us why should we worry.
Now, that being said, I’m not saying everyone should read his books. If you’re not much of a fan of nihilism, I would not recommend his work.
Even though one could interpret his books as strangely uplifting, his comparisons are rooted in a deep sadness nonetheless.
However, if you ever feel alone, if you ever feel like no one understands you, perhaps Emil could offer you some catharsis.
