The Light in the Middle of the Tunnel
Keywords:
Optimism, pessimism, hope, death, relationality, existentialism The 2025 Existential Movement conference posed the question, “How do we safely get through these turbulent times?”. For many, at least part of the answer seems obvious: stay positive, be optimistic. Certainly in the UK and the United States, positive thinking of all kinds if highly valourised, even though – or maybe in part because – our media focuses on bad news. Despite this doom-and-gloom, when it comes to looking after our mental health, developing our professional lives or even finding love, the most common message is that we need to be optimistic.Abstract
We do need unrealistic optimism. The darkness of a realistic view can throw the light into greater relief, making experience richer. In dark times our goal should not be the light at the end of the tunnel but to illuminate its passage, so humankind can bear more reality. Life does not need a happy ending to be a great story.
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Published
2025-07-01
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Articles
