# Dialogue of Pessimism — WHE Article Discussion (2-2162)

**URL:** <https://community.worldhistory.org/t/dialogue-of-pessimism-whe-article-discussion-2-2162/18567>\
**Category:** WHE Articles\
**Created:** [February 2, 2023, 9:56am UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/dialogue-of-pessimism-whe-article-discussion-2-2162/18567 "2023-02-02T09:56:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![JPryst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/community.worldhistory.org/jpryst/32/168_2.png) [@JPryst](https://community.worldhistory.org/u/JPryst)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2023, 9:56am UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/dialogue-of-pessimism-whe-article-discussion-2-2162/18567/1 "2023-02-02T09:56:09Z")

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The _Dialogue of Pessimism_ (c. 1000 BCE) is a Babylonian poem featuring a master and his slave in ten exchanges during which the master proposes an action, and the slave gives reasons for and against its pursuit. The piece has been interpreted as an existential statement, satire, a theodicy, and social commentary.

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_This is a companion discussion topic for the original article at [https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2162/dialogue-of-pessimism/](https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2162/dialogue-of-pessimism/)._

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**Author:** ![system](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/community.worldhistory.org/system/32/30_2.png) [@system](https://community.worldhistory.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 3:22am UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/dialogue-of-pessimism-whe-article-discussion-2-2162/18567/2 "2026-08-01T03:22:12Z")

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