Steam

Steam

127 ratings
[Short Essay] If Arthur Schopenhauer would be aware of Steam...
By SgtFopper™
In this "guide" I want to show you how it is possible to connect Steam with a philosophic touch in form of a short essay. It's my first try and I hope you like it!
   
Award
Favorite
Favorited
Unfavorite
Short essay
...then he was one of the first who would curse this gaming platform in every way.

Think about it: What might be worse as a gamer addict himself his mentality so much: There are the addictive Steam Achievements which you really want to catch or the efforts for the (Steam) leaderboards to show your friends and others how awesome you are and how much do you like this kind of genre.

Yes, it's the will that was already a thorn in Mister Schopenhauer's(*) side during the 18th and 19th century. (and still today in his opinion!) And I think it's a good point to say that Steam is truely connected with the will. You're buying games and play them for the gaming will. (And nothing's wrong about it, right?!)

(*)Arthur Schopenhauer was a former and famous German philosopher who wrote lots of books about "pessimism" and "the will".

A suitable example:
If Gabe Newell would meet Arthur Schopenhauer outside in a Washington terrace to have a cup of coffee with him, everyone would think that this isn't a good idea at all. But that's terribly wrong. Although Mister Schopenhauer would call Steam as a gaming platform a "willing-killer" for God's sake, he would have some kind words for Gabe Newell. And this would be that kind of kind words which frighten himself, as well. Because Gabe Newell is leading the control of the will off himself towards the estimated 200+ millions of current Steam users and calls it the "Steam Community". Even so a dispute would start between them because Gabe has his own opinion; less pessimistic than Schopenhauer. Schopenhauer on the other side contents himself with philosophic onomatopoeia (word painting) but Gabe follows up his words with actions and makes alot of profits - in a positive way and not that much "will-sick" like Schopenhauer.
That's how Gabe Newell would describe that: "We're living in a modern society where Steam does fill a gap that makes millions of Steam users just happy and also creates a active Steam Community with the goal to achieve something big. That's Steam, a community of happy and creative Steam users that aren't under the pressure of the will - maybe sometimes but that's still within reason..."

So, now it's clear that a Mister Schopenhauer can't be a friend of Steam, (we will keep in mind his sensitivities during his lifetime during the 18th century!) not even respect it. Everything is just a will of gaming that is a result of submission where you can ask yourself: Where is just the fun?! Having wrote this: Here ends my philosophy!

Yes, Mister Schopenhauer, we all know that millions of people like your writings in the past and still today but you wouldn't enjoy the life today - all the people(s) out there who are forced by the bad and evil will like you always say.
Close words
That was my first try to kinda connect Steam with philosophy. However I hope you have had fun to read this short essay. Maybe I will write more of this kind of essays about Steam or something else in future. Of course I would be pleased to get some feedback - positive or negative. Everything is allowed. Thanks for reading! :)

If you want to know more about Arthur Schopenhauer than have a look below on Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Schopenhauer

13 Comments
Σ_S9 Sep 17, 2022 @ 1:23pm 
nice bro
halfcrispymf Dec 23, 2021 @ 3:36am 
this is great :steamthumbsup::steamthumbsup::highcop::Pancake:
bukow_ May 5, 2020 @ 3:33pm 
:luv:
bukow_ May 5, 2020 @ 3:33pm 
:luv:
bukow_ May 5, 2020 @ 3:32pm 
:luv:
bukow_ May 5, 2020 @ 3:32pm 
:luv:
bukow_ May 5, 2020 @ 3:32pm 
:luv:
bukow_ May 5, 2020 @ 3:32pm 
:luv:
VoidGod Mar 18, 2016 @ 1:36am 
wow amazing piece lol funny in a sort of tragic way
Holar Mar 5, 2016 @ 7:11am 
Du bist verrückt - aber im Positiven:happycthulhu: