194 Intuitive Thinking as a Spiritual Path
CHAPTER 13
THE VALUE OF LIFE
(Pessimism and Optimism)
A counterpart to the question of life’s purpose or vocation
(cf. pp. 173 ff.) is that of life’s value. In relation to this
question, we encounter two opposed views, together with
every conceivable attempt at compromise between them.
One view says that this world is the best that could con-
ceivably exist, and that life and action in it are gifts of in-
estimable value. Everything exhibits harmonious and
purposeful cooperation, and everything is worthy of ad-
miration. Even what is apparently bad and evil may be
recognized as good from a higher standpoint: it represents
a beneficial counterpart to what is good. We value the
good all the more for its contrast with evil. Nor is evil
something truly real; we merely sense as evil what is a
lesser degree of good. Evil is the absence of good, not
something significant in itself.
The other view claims that life is full of trial and tribu-
lation; everywhere unpleasure outweighs pleasure, pain
outweighs joy. Existence is a burden, and in all circum-
stances non-existence would be preferable to existence.
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