Episode #042 ... Optimism

Philosophize This!

Stephen West

Philosophy, Society & Culture, Education

4.8 • 17.1K Ratings

🗓️ 12 November 2014

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

On this episode, we explore the benefits and drawbacks of optimism. First, we examine the various motivations for pessimism, and hear what Winston Churchill, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Marcus Aurelius have to say about optimism. Next, we think about the vastly different implications of optimism in our personal lives and optimism on a societal level. Finally, we find out why Voltaire thought it was preposterous to think that we’re living in the best of all possible worlds and why he said, "Optimism is the madness of insisting all is well when we are miserable." All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! Thank you so much for listening! Could never do this without your help. Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis Social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast X: https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophizethisshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	For more information about this or any episode of the podcast, check out the website at
0:04.8	philosophizethis.org.
0:06.4	We have additional content, further reading, transcripts of every show, all three, of course.
0:12.2	But if you value the shows and educational resource and you want to help keep it going,
0:15.8	you can find out more about how to do that at patreon.com slash philosophize this or alternatively.
0:21.0	If you're buying something from Amazon this week anyway, consider clicking through
0:24.4	our banner.
0:25.4	It's at the bottom center of the landing page of philosophizethis.org.
0:29.6	1% of the show goes back to the show.
0:31.3	It may just be a click for you, but every little bit adds up.
0:34.3	Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday.
0:37.2	And I hope you love the show.
0:39.8	Let's all start the show today by asking ourselves a very serious and revealing question.
0:45.5	Are you an optimist?
0:46.8	Alright, let's think about ourselves for a second.
0:49.3	When you go about your life and things happen throughout your day, good or bad, when you
0:52.9	think about the future, do you think about it optimistically or pessimistically?
0:59.1	It's kind of a bizarre stigma attached to being a pessimist in today's world.
1:03.1	Like if you're a pessimist, there are certain groups of people that if you're around,
1:06.9	they, I mean, it's the worst thing you could ever possibly be.
1:09.5	You could be a convicted felon.
1:11.0	These people would be more accepting of you than if you're a pessimist.
	...

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