Arthur Schopenhauer was a German philosopher born in 1788, known for his pessimistic view of life. He believed that human desires and suffering are central to existence, and he argued that happiness is often elusive. Schopenhauer's most famous work, *The World as Will and Representation*, explores the idea that the driving force behind all life is a blind, irrational will. His thoughts influenced many later thinkers, including Friedrich Nietzsche and Sigmund Freud. Schopenhauer also had a deep appreciation for art and music, seeing them as ways to escape the pain of existence. His ideas continue to resonate in philosophy and psychology today.