What exactly is hope?

The internationally recognized philosopher Lars Fr. H. Svendsen turns his gaze towards hope – and it is not entirely without reason. Right now the need for hope might be bigger than ever.

The Ukrainian population’s reaction to the Russian invasion February 2022 revived an old idea Lars Fr. H. Svendsen had about writing a philosophy of hope. In the range of emotions in the Ukrainian population, such as rage, despair and grief, it was hope that stood first – the hope that they would be able to resist the onslaught of Russian supremacy and preserve their freedom.

In A Philosophy of Hope, Svendsen takes us on a journey through the history of philosophy and shows what the most central thinkers have written about hope. As always it is with sharp analysis, insight and wit from one our the best communicators of philosophy today.