Sumit Paul-Choudhury, a science writer and author of "The Bright Side," discusses the transformative power of optimism. He explores how optimism isn't just a human trait; even animals like chickens and bumblebees exhibit hopeful behaviors. Sumit highlights the role of optimistic thinking in overcoming 21st-century challenges, from pandemics to climate change. He also delves into the complexities of optimism, debunking biases and advocating for innovative policymaking driven by collective hope.
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insights INSIGHT
Three Versions of Optimism
Optimism has three versions: psychological, philosophical, and practical.
Psychological optimism is an innate tendency to hope for the best, present in animals and humans.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Chicken Optimism
Chickens, when tested, show a bias towards positive interpretation, demonstrating optimism.
They associate colors with food and tend to interpret ambiguous colors optimistically.
insights INSIGHT
Philosophical Optimism
Philosophical optimism originated with Leibniz, who argued we live in the best possible world.
Voltaire satirized this view in Candide, portraying it as delusional.
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Candide, written by Voltaire, is a satirical novel that critiques metaphysical optimism, particularly the philosophy of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. The story revolves around Candide, a naive and optimistic young man who is expelled from his home after an illicit affair with the baron's daughter, Cunégonde. Candide and his companions, including his tutor Pangloss, experience a series of horrific events such as wars, earthquakes, slavery, and other atrocities. Despite these hardships, Pangloss persists in his belief that 'all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds.' The novel ultimately concludes with Candide and his friends settling on a farm in Turkey, where they find happiness by focusing on practical, everyday tasks rather than philosophical speculations. Voltaire uses satire to lampoon various aspects of 18th-century society, including science, philosophy, religion, and government[2][3][5].
The Bright Side: Why Optimists Have the Power to Change the World
The Bright Side: Why Optimists Have the Power to Change the World
Sumit Paul-Choudhury
Be it the recent outbreak of wars around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic or the unfortunate personal events that will undoubtedly befall us at some points in our lives, it can sometimes be difficult to look on the bright side. But is doing so even helpful?
Science writer Sumit Paul-Choudhury certainly thinks so. In this episode, we catch up with him to talk about his latest book The Bright Side: Why Optimists Have the Power to Change the World.
He tells us how the term was coined based on the theory that we live in the best of all possible worlds, or the optimal world if you like, why far from being unique to humans, many animals such as chickens and bumblebees also show signs of optimism, and how optimistic thinking will play a crucial role in helping us overcome the problems of the 21st Century.
Instant Genius 