The Complex Emotion of Hope
Hope is a complex emotion that goes beyond the simple belief that things will turn out alright. Hope is aspiration, good, uncertainty, and efficacy all wrapped up together. The equation for hope is Hope = Aspiration + Good + Uncertainty + Efficacy. It is a sentiment so pervasive that it is almost transparent, and it is often used in an offhanded manner. However, eminent thinkers have noted hope only in passing, with few philosophers giving it serious consideration.
Thomas Hobbes, for instance, mentions hope in his political psychology, but he only emphasizes the “equality of hope” in the state of nature, which should make people seek the protection of the mighty Leviathan. Spinoza also pays little attention to hope, but he argues that hope, together with fear, is the basis of political power and the reason people follow the social contract.
On the other hand, Immanuel Kant takes hope more seriously. In his Critique of Pure Reason, he introduces the question, “What may I hope?” and appeals to God as a necessary condition for human hope for moral progress, personal, and universal. However, Kant fails in providing a sufficient condition for hope, as good people often get the short end of the stick even under God.
Søren Kierkegaard, a Danish existentialist, believes that earthly, natural hopes are bound to disappoint us. But they serve a superior purpose by paving a path for eternal hope, which “is against hope because according to that purely natural hope, there is no more hope; consequently, this hope is against hope.” Kierkegaard wanted to go as far as possible with his hope against hope, to a father sacrificing his beloved son, believing that somehow his beloved God will save the day. However, Kierkegaard tried to redeem God Himself from His own cruel words and actions.
The hope against hope mentality is a dead end. Hope can survive the anti-life, the dark at the end of everything. But hope itself, or rather a barren hope, is what kills hope. Hope is not optimism; it is the belief that we can affect positive change, even when we don’t know the outcome.
Hope requires partnership. In human affairs, “I am hope” is never enough; “we are hope” is the only path to realizing dreams. Hope is a cornerstone of emotional intelligence. It helps us stay resilient in the face of adversity, overcome obstacles, and achieve our goals.
Looking at a painting or a photograph, where the sun meets the horizon, it’s not always easy to tell if it’s dusk or dawn. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell in real life as well. In such uncertain moments, rather than looking at the sunset or sunrise to establish directions, we look for our compass to offer guidance – to catch the sun and earth’s intentions.
During Passover, a time to celebrate emancipation from slavery, we can calibrate our emotional and moral compasses to rediscover hope. In Israel, where the light of liberties flickers in limbo, the country’s fragile democracy lingers between death and rebirth.
In conclusion, hope is not a simple emotion. It is a combination of aspiration, good, uncertainty, and efficacy. It is pervasive in our lives, yet few philosophers have given it serious consideration. Hope requires partnership, and it is a cornerstone of emotional intelligence. We can use hope to stay resilient in the face of adversity, overcome obstacles, and achieve our goals. And in uncertain times, we can rely on our compass to offer guidance and rediscover hope.
Sources:
- https://youtu.be/dvw4zguM__w
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/double-edged/202304/what-should-we-hope-for
- https://www.wordsoffaithhopelove.com/three-things-remain-hope/
- https://chat.openai.com/
- https://readloud.net
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