PHILOSOPHY OF HOPE: OPTIMISM AS A SPIRITUAL PILLAR OF CRISIS SOCIETIES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31392/cult.alm.2025.2.38Keywords:
philosophy of hope, optimism, social crisis, risks, social problemsAbstract
The philosophy of hope and optimism is an important component of the study of human psychology and social mechanisms that contribute to overcoming crisis situations. It forms the basis for understanding how individuals and societies can recover from major shocks such as wars, economic crises, natural disasters, or political conflicts. The proposed study provides a theoretical analysis of the philosophy of hope in the context of classical and contemporary philosophical concepts and considers the role of optimism as a resource in times of crisis. Particular attention is paid to the study of the functions of hope in psychological, social, political and economic contexts.Attention is drawn to the importance of hope as a mechanism for maintaining the mental stability of individuals, as well as a means of strengthening social solidarity and mobilizing collective efforts. It is determined that optimism can play a key role in the formation of constructive recovery strategies when it is combined with a critical analysis of the situation – this approach is called «realistic optimism». Special attention is paid to the risks that accompany excessive or illusory optimism in a crisis, when an unreasonable belief in rapid improvement can lead to social apathy, cynicism, or psychological exhaustion. Illusions of hope that are not backed up by real actions or plans often lead to the exacerbation of crises and even deepening of social problems. At the same time, the philosophy of hope points to the importance of maintaining a realistic approach to analyzing crisis situations and the need for active action to overcome them.The conclusions emphasize the importance of the philosophy of hope as a key element in the recovery of societies experiencing complex and protracted crises. Realistic optimism helps to form a positive but well-founded view of the future, which helps to create conditions for sustainable development even in times of global turmoil.
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