Difference of being hopeful, optimistic and pessimistic

Philosophy 103 was one of my most memorable classes in college or University for the European folk.

Andrew Soh was my professor and he gave one of the most articulate discussions regarding Marcel's Phenomenology of Hope.

He summed up the difference by giving the anecdote of a dying man in a hospital with 3 children.

The optimistic child goes up to his father and says that everything will be alright, he'll be fine and starts planning for his dad's next birthday party. The optimist does not take part in resolving the problem, but just blindly waits for a positive outcome, thinking it will happen without need for him to work on it. The optimistic child just starts saying that things will be fine. The outcome will be good.

The pessimistic child goes up to his father and starts thinking of the funeral plans, starts wondering how life is going to be without his father and just hopes that his father dies without pain, anyway, its going to happen no matter what he does.

The hopeful child goes up to his father and says "no matter what happens dad, I'll be right here for you".


Hope, true hope, must be distinguished from blind optimism. Sometimes they may be confused for being one and the same, but true hope, hopes in the process. It does not look at the product of the process, because that would be wishing.

True hope takes part in the problem, constantly finding and integrating oneself in finding the solution, being part of the process. It does not hinge itself on the outcome, but on the idea that being part of the process is what matters. When you have true hope, failure is not a bar to moving forward, hope is what keeps you moving toward your goal. It's the process, not the outcome.

True hope must be distinguished from wishing in the outcome, because when some wish for something, like when one wishes he would win the lottery, and in fact, he does not win, he opens himself to despair. He hinges his whole being on some tangible thing that can easily be destroyed by another human.

This lecture was the bridge for reconciling philosophy with religion. In a nutshell, when one hopes, to protect oneself from despair, he should hinge his hope on something or some being that cannot be destroyed, a higher being that cannot be simply stolen like a lottery ticket or destroyed by an aircraft carrier or the change of time. That way, you will never let go of the process, because you will know that your cause is something that can never be destroyed.

Hope Floats