From the concept of hope to the principle of hope

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    Abstract

    The chapter begins by contrasting two approaches to the analysis of hope, one which takes its departure from a view broadly shared by Hobbes, Locke and Hume, another which fits better with Aquinas's definition of hope. The former relies heavily on a sharp distinction between the cognitive and conative aspects of hope. It is argued that while this approach provides a valuable source of insights, its focus is too narrow and it rests on a problematic rationalist psychology. The chapter then discusses the phenomenology of hope with particular reference to the contrast between the lived experience of expectation and anticipation. This leads to a discussion of the value of hope. My thesis here is that when philosophers reflect on hope, they bring along background, tacit assumptions regarding its worth, which I attempt to make explicit. Finally the chapter identifies a second kind of philosophical reflection on hope, which is concerned not so much with the logic or value of hope as with hope understood as a 'principle.'
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationHope against hope
    Subtitle of host publicationphilosophies, cultures and politics of possibility and doubt
    EditorsJanet Horrigan, Ed Wiltse
    Place of PublicationAmsterdam : New York
    PublisherRodopi
    Pages3-22
    Number of pages20
    ISBN (Print)9789042030091
    Publication statusPublished - 2010

    Publication series

    NameProbing the boundaries
    PublisherRodopi
    Volume67

    Keywords

    • hope
    • philosophical analysis
    • phenomenology
    • desire
    • belief
    • probability
    • anticipation
    • Richard Rorty
    • Ernst Bloch

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