Principle of the Denial of Self-Consciousness

This paper reexamines the philosophical significance of the denial of self-consciousness. While Schopenhauer and his followers often interpret the denial of self-consciousness as a passive escape from the suffering of life, I argue that this process should also be understood as a positive act of integration between subject and object. When consciousness becomes fully absorbed in learning, thinking, or aesthetic experience, it temporarily loses awareness of itself, not merely to evade boredom or pain but to internalize, assimilate, and transform external objects into the structure of subjectivity. In this sense, the denial of self-consciousness is not simply a withdrawal from reality but an affirmation of life through resistance and transformation. Even in cases where denial emerges from distraction or entertainment, its ultimate function lies in preserving the subject and sustaining the possibility of future change. Thus, the denial of self-consciousness should be regarded as an essential principle of human existence and an expression of life through artistic form.