Infinite Resignation: On Pessimism

Insightful and accessible (in the best possible way that philosophy should be). Both Thacker’s original aphorisms “On Pessimism” and his accounts of “The Patron Saints of Pessimism” are wonderfully fun and well written, full of an authentic, witty bleakness that shrugs at existential truth and sighs with infinite resignation. (Sorry for that last bit. But it is aptly true.)Thacker, from the few books I’ve read that are connected to him, seems to be the crowning prince of pessimism today. 🤟🏻

From the first page “Pessimism is the humility of the species that has named itself, thought furtively stumbling upon its own limitations on black wings of futility. (And is this helpful...?)” If you are the type of person who wakes up with dread and a resignation to dread, you will enjoy this book. And you enjoy this paradox. It’s also really funny.

Really liked this one.

I dont know want to do this.

This reads almost like notes for several books instead of a one cohesive one: the aphorism are pithy and, indeed, pessimistic, but not early as clear as the aphorists that Thacker lists in his hagiographies of pessimism. Furthermore, some of them are clever at the first read but not particularly insightful after a few, which is someone one wants from darker aphorists. I kept wondering, despite liking Thacker's more systemic (or maybe, complete), works, why I wasn't just reading Schopenhauer, Cioran, Leopardi, Lichtenberg, or Nietzsche directly. The hagiographies are interesting, although they are wildly varied in-completeness and insight.