A case for optimism

Definitions

from Oxford Languages

Pessimism is “a tendency to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen”. Or philosophically, “a belief that this world is as bad as it could be or that evil will ultimately prevail over good”.

Optimism, on the other hand, is “the hopefulness and confidence about the future or the success of something”. Or philosophically, “the doctrine, especially as set forth by Leibniz, that this world is the best of all possible worlds”.*

Is pessimism bad?

Is it bad to be pessimistic? Pessimism is not necessarily negative in itself. Whether for an individual or a society, we need a part of pessimism, notably to properly evaluate something or to find the right balance in the risks we take. We need a part of doubt, we need to imagine negative scenarios. But it all depends on the level.

Some individuals are so pessimistic that they cannot appreciate their experience in this world nor contribute positively to it. Some societies are so pessimistic that it becomes difficult for their citizens to be fulfilled or to build their future.

Do you think individuals optimize their chances of being happy if they imagine the worst in every situation? That they will have more positive interactions if they approach every encounter with the expectation that it will go badly? That they will contribute positively to the world if they do not believe in positive outcomes? And what about a society that does not believe in its future, do you think it can progress in a good direction?

Pessimism in too large doses is a poison for the mind and for society.

Optimism

Optimism, on the other hand, is thinking that most situations, most encounters, can lead to a positive outcome. It is also believing in the possibility that humanity can have a good future.

Yes, something bad can happen. Yes, an encounter can go wrong. Yes, something in the future can be worse than today. But this will happen more often with a pessimistic attitude than with an optimistic one.

If you think you will never succeed, you will never dare to try. If you think your encounters will go wrong, you will always adopt a defensive stance, leading on average to worse interactions with others. If you think humanity has no future, you won’t help the next generation nor participate in building the basis for tomorrow’s prosperity.

But if you think you can succeed, then you can truly try. If you think human beings can be good and that your encounters with other people can most probably go well, you will produce better encounters on average. If you think the future offers opportunities, to become better in any way, you can find excitement in it, and the willingness to participate in positively building it. Over time, the difference in results between a pessimistic and an optimistic stance is gigantic.

Adopting an optimistic stance instantly results in an increase in our willingness to try to do things and in our chances to have positive interactions with the world and other human beings. It is the optimists who create the good things of which tomorrow will be made, who ensure that the next generation of human beings will be as fulfilled as possible. An optimistic society, for its part, increases its chances of having a prosperous future.

Being optimistic is not about omitting to be critical or to evaluate risks. It is just about believing and hoping more in a positive outcome rather than a negative one.

We need a good part of optimism to be happy, to have a thriving society and to build a good future.

Believing

Pessimism has a role in the search for truth. Some aspects of us, in specific contexts, and some people and roles in society, must be pessimistic. It is necessary to find the right balance. And there are different factors that can create pessimism in people. Some of them are biological, which we cannot change (at least not easily, or not yet).

But I believe that optimism should be dominant. There are other factors we can influence and try to change, particularly our personal philosophy of life and the dominant ideologies in society. It is the only way to build a positive and fulfilling world and society, for ourselves and for others.

Too much pessimism leads to despair. Enough optimism leads to prosperity. We should reject the excessive pessimism that plagues part of our society today, and embrace optimism instead.

I believe in the good sides of the world, I believe in the possibility of a good future. If you don't believe in it, what's the point?