Pessisme

Pessisme (pessimism) is a tendency to interpret situations in a negatively biased way, to anticipate unfavorable outcomes, and to view life as marked by suffering or disappointment. The term originates from the French pessisme, derived from Latin pessimus meaning worst.

Philosophical pessimism seeks to claim that life has an intrinsic tendency toward suffering, meaninglessness, or disappointment. The most influential figure is Arthur Schopenhauer, who described the world as the will and representation and argued that desire causes suffering, with only temporary relief through art, compassion, or quietism. Giacomo Leopardi is another key figure, developing a more existential, culturally pessimistic stance. In the 20th century, Emil Cioran became associated with radical pessimism, using aphoristic writing to question the very possibility of meaningful existence.

In psychology, pessimism refers to a habitual cognitive stance in which negative outcomes are expected more often than positive ones. It is measured in optimism-pessimism scales and relates to attributional style and mental health outcomes; it can coexist with resilience in some contexts and is not itself a clinical diagnosis.

Cultural expressions of pessimism appear in literature, philosophy, and film, often as a lens to critique human limitations, social structures, or existential vulnerability.

See also: optimism, realism, cynicism, existentialism, Schopenhauer.