A Philosophy of Hope
Lars SvendsenA profound, philosophical exploration of the nature of hope.
In this book Lars Svendsen embarks on a profound exploration of the nature of hope, asking what exactly hope is and how it differs from related phenomena such as wishful thinking. He argues that hope is rooted in the ability to shape one’s own future, crucial for a society built on freedom instead of fear. Svendsen highlights hope’s vital role in giving life meaning, and its intimate connection to identity. He shows that, while hope cannot magically transform the world, it can empower individuals to focus on achievable goals rather than pressing challenges. Ultimately, A Philosophy of Hope demonstrates the capacity of hope to propel both individuals and the world in a positive direction.
A profound, philosophical exploration of the nature of hope.
In this book Lars Svendsen embarks on a profound exploration of the nature of hope, asking what exactly hope is and how it differs from related phenomena such as wishful thinking. He argues that hope is rooted in the ability to shape one’s own future, crucial for a society built on freedom instead of fear. Svendsen highlights hope’s vital role in giving life meaning, and its intimate connection to identity. He shows that, while hope cannot magically transform the world, it can empower individuals to focus on achievable goals rather than pressing challenges. Ultimately, A Philosophy of Hope demonstrates the capacity of hope to propel both individuals and the world in a positive direction.
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“Is there an obligation to hope?” asks Lars Svendsen in his latest book, A Philosophy of Hope. His measured answer is yes, because it’s a condition for living a life that’s genuinely worth living. In this warm and compelling argument, Svendsen, a “renegade pessimist”, offers us an optimistic but cautious understanding of this emotional state. He persuades me that hope is more than just a comfort. Hope fires the imagination and, if you can’t imagine something, you won’t be able to act on it. A Philosophy of Hope convincingly explains how hope offers us the capacity for both imagination and for action. It’s a powerful antidote for a wildly pessimistic era such as ours.
'Peter Toohey, Professor of Classics, University of Calgary, and author of Hold On: The Life, Science, and Art of Waiting
Introduction
1. What Is Hope?
2. Defining Hope
3. Is Hope Irrational?
4. Hope and Freedom
5. The Politics of Hope
6. To Hope Well and to Hope Badly
7. Eternal and Finite Hope
8. What Can I Hope For? Immanuel Kant and Maria von Herbert
9. Optimism, Pessimism and Hope
10. Losing Hope
11. Hope and Meaning in Life
Bibliography
References
Index
Lars Svendsen is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Bergen, Norway. He has written 14 books, including A Philosophy of Fear (2008), A Philosophy of Loneliness (2017) and A Philosophy of Lying (2022), all published by Reaktion Books.
More books by Lars Svendsen
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