When hope becomes cruel optimism

When confronted with the great crises of our time, a sense of hope about the future can seem naïve at best, or even counterproductive if it leads to complacency.

Yet thinkers across psychology, behavioural science, and philosophy recognise hope as an essential driver of social and societal change. Far from being a passive sentiment, hope paired with purposeful action enables humans to imagine alternative futures and work their way through tough times.

Subscribe to FARSIGHT by becoming a Futures Member at the Institute.

Author: Lisa Di Giulio

Narration: Manya Lind (with ElevenLabs AI)

Published by the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies