Critical thinking is unwelcome. More and more people are opting out of the constant flow of bad news, while the call is repeated in all tones: ‘Optimism is mandatory’ – a blatant threat against all those who are read as pessimists. Mood-mongering takes precedence over opinion-forming. However, the prevalence of feelings smuggles in implicit views that need to be exposed. Optimism is not just a state of mind or an attitude, but a concept that goes back to Leibniz’s theodicy and demands the fatalistic acceptance of what exists. Taking action against optimism does not mean surrendering to pessimism, but freeing ourselves from this clumsy alternative.
Awards
Günther Anders Prize for Critical Thinking 2024Essay
Guillaume Paoli is a French journalist and philosopher living in Berlin. He is one of the founder of the movement of the "Happy Unemployed". Previously published by Matthes & Seitz Berlin: Mind and Garbage (2023).
