Hope and the Utopian Impulse

Abstract

Abstract This chapter presents a framework for understanding both hope as a differentiated human experience and the relationship between hope and utopia(nism). Offering a rigorous analysis and synthesis of literature from across various disciplines (including philosophy, theology, psychology, sociology, political studies, and the health sciences), a taxonomy of modes of hoping is developed. While “hope” and “utopia” are often said to go hand in hand—utopias offering visions of hope, hope driving the utopian impulse—the chapter argues that hope is a complex category of human experience that is not always or necessarily aligned with a utopian sensibility. Put simply, different modes of hoping possess different utopian orientations. Hope in its transformative mode most clearly aligns with the utopian impulse, and the chapter argues that pedagogical intervention is required to mobilize transformative hope. The chapter concludes with a case study of Occupy Wall Street in order to illustrate the utility of the modes of hoping framework as an analytical tool.