A Contrastive-Analytical Approach to the Concept of Boredom and Escaping it in Sanai and Schopenhauer’s

Abstract

Boredom is one of the main philosophical themes of Schopenhauer who offers two ways of aesthetic contemplation and denial of the will to live (through piety and devotedness) for overcoming boredom. Boredom is also a theme in the metaphysical views of Sanai on existence. Methods of permutation, escaping boredom and death phobia which are closely interrelated in Sanai’s view consist of resorting to the realm of Sufi poetry as well as experiencing a voluntary death. With a contrastive-analytical approach, this study concludes that in Sanai’s experience, the realm of love and a romantic presence in existence is another way to escape boredom; this issue is similar to the behavior based on compassion and love in Schopenhauer’s thoughts.

Keywords

• keywords: denial of the will to live
• voluntary death experience
• aesthetic contemplation
• realm of sufi poetry
• sanai
• schopenhauer
• boredom