Rationalistic Optimism

A consistent rationalist is neither a philosophical pessimist in the sense of thinking that everything is automatically objectively or subjectively unpleasant nor a naive optimist in the sense of thinking that every event and mental experience will automatically work out for some cosmic or personal benefit.  Instead, a consistent rationalist realizes that some events or states of being are more personally preferable than others, as well as that it is possible for some personal and societal conditions to be morally better than others.  Irrational optimism does not rule out optimism of a different kind.

There is always the possibility that suboptimal personal or societal circumstances can improve as long as the conditions one hopes for do not contradict themselves or any necessary truth of reason.  In this way, rationalistic optimism can be found: regardless of personal preference, it is not impossible to bring about a more subjectively preferable life or conceive of a society that is not riddled with the problems present in one's community.  Not all active hope--that is, hope that is chosen instead of experienced regardless of one's wishes--is irrational or in vain.

Just as it rescues people from all manner of other errors, rationalism dispels false pessimism and false hope alike.  It can provide absolute clarity about both one's subjective comforts and discomforts and their conceptual relationship to perceived external circumstances.  Just because something seems unbearable does not mean that it is; just because something initially seems hopeless does not mean that it is.  The absolute certainty and universality of reason can even provide a source of empowerment and energy to face trials of many kinds.

Hoping for something impossible like reason being false is the most irrational kind of hope possible, and this makes hoping that any single logical truth will change the height of asinine desire.  However, this leaves hoping for anything that is logically possible within the scope of non-irrational desires.  This might seem trivial to some people, but the fact that some degree of contentment, hope, or desire is necessary to even continue living from day to day makes rationalistic optimism a matter of both philosophical clarity and personal benefit.

With this in mind, the importance of understanding optimism and hope without fallacies and assumptions should be quite clear.  It is both a matter of truth and a matter of subjective relief, or at least potential relief.  Knowledge and peace can be acquired by reflecting on this issue.  This, ultimately, is the dual impact of philosophy: everyone has a worldview, and that worldview inevitably shapes people's degrees of self-awareness, motivations, and ability to endure the trials of human life.  Rationalistic knowledge reflects a concern for truth as it also provides a basis for optimism, creating a psychological anchor amidst uncertain, sometimes overwhelming circumstances.