Editor,
As a recent philosophy graduate and educator, I am struck by the pervasive lack of hope I encounter in our society today. Nowhere is this more evident than when the topic of politics arises. Whether in conversations with children or adults, I consistently observe a sense of despair that follows the loss of one party’s candidate. This all-or-nothing attitude not only heightens division but also fosters animosity between groups. When people believe that their only chance for good has been lost, they are likely to resent those they hold responsible.
This pessimistic mindset doesn’t just stay confined to political discourse; it seeps into other areas of life as well. The question we must ask ourselves is: What can be done to counteract this pervasive despair?
I believe we need to foster intellectual resilience in ourselves and others. Like the ancient Stoics, we should strive to face challenges with strength and composure. Hope is not just possible; it is almost inevitable for beings like us, who can imagine the future and conceive of different possibilities. So why not make hope a more central part of our lives? We have the power to cultivate hope as an attitude, both individually and collectively. Our approach to confronting and mitigating evil is, at least in part, within our control.
However, I am not advocating for blind optimism. As philosopher Lisa Tessman correctly points out, hope is not always warranted when faced with deeply entrenched, systemic harms or oppressive institutions. In some cases, it may be realistic to predict that success is unlikely, no matter how well one writes, how passionately one advocates or how fervently one prays. But even in such situations, despair should not be our default response.
I fear we have begun to undervalue hope. We forget its potential to inspire positive action and resilience. We need to hope for the collective good of our nation, for the improvement of children’s education and for the belief that, regardless of which candidate wins an election, they will strive to bring about positive change. Despair, by contrast, only breeds resentment, hinders cooperation and fosters a sense of self-defeat. Embracing hope does not mean ignoring challenges or denying harsh realities. It involves recognizing the power of optimism to drive constructive efforts and foster collective progress. By cultivating a resilient mindset that balances hope with pragmatic action, we can build a more hopeful and cooperative society.
August Albers
Ridgefield
