[peirce-l] Labor Day message on Intellectual Hope

[Gary Richmond]

List, <> I couldn't help but think of Peirce's comments on  intellectual hope in relation to the "social impulse" as I read in this letter in The New York Times today that "Unsettling as it might be, the future is unpredictable, and surprises are inevitable. Hope [as opposed to optimism] is an entirely different story. Hope acknowledges the radical openness of the future and holds out the possibility — not the certainty — that there might be something generative at work with which it might make sense to align efforts." Peirce wrote: CP 2.655. It may seem strange that I should put forward three sentiments, namely, interest in an indefinite community, recognition of the possibility of this interest being made supreme, and hope in the unlimited continuance of intellectual activity, as indispensable requirements of logic. Yet, when we consider that logic depends on a mere struggle to escape doubt, which, as it terminates in action, must begin in emotion, and that, furthermore, the only cause of our planting ourselves on reason is that other methods of escaping doubt fail on account of the social impulse, why should we wonder to find social sentiment presupposed in reasoning? As for the other two sentiments which I find necessary, they are so only as supports and accessories of that. It interests me to notice that these three sentiments seem to be pretty much the same as that famous trio of Charity, Faith, and Hope This "something generative at work with which it might make sense to align efforts" is part of what I hope we all seek and might yet find to some measure here at Peirce-l. Gary To the Editor of The New York Times (September 3, 2006) Re “What Is the Latest Thing to Be Discouraged About? The Rise of Pessimism” (Editorial Observer, Aug. 28):: To the Editor : I suspect that Adam Cohen confuses optimism with hope. Both pessimism and optimism are palliative illusions, implying an unfounded certainty about how the future will unfold. Optimism in the face of the daunting challenges of these times can be as debilitating as pessimism — shielding us from the obligation to become active agents for a better outcome. If recent disappointment in leadership is robbing Americans of their optimism, this might actually be a step in the direction of cultural maturity. Unsettling as it might be, the future is unpredictable, and surprises are inevitable. Hope is an entirely different story. Hope acknowledges the radical openness of the future and holds out the possibility — not the certainty — that there might be something generative at work with which it might make sense to align efforts. That’s a much more responsible stance in life. Maureen O’Hara Greenbrae, Calif., Aug. 28, 2006 The writer is emerita president of Saybrook Graduate School in San Francisco. --- Message from peirce-l forum to subscriber archive@mail-archive.com