Habits of Hope: A Pragmatic Theory(Vanderbilt Library of American Philosophy)

In this original contribution to the American philosophical tradition, Patrick Shade makes a strong argument for the necessity of hope in a cynical world that too often rejects it as foolish. While most accounts of hope situate it in a theological context, Shade presents a theory rooted in the pragmatic thought of such American philosophers as C. S. Peirce, William James, and John Dewey. Shade first discusses the particular hopes we pursue and then turns to the habits of hope - persistence, resourcefulness, and courage - that are vital to their realization. Indeed, habits of hope are the basis for developing hopefulness, a complex habit that nurtures and sustains us even when we fail to realize particular hopes. Hopefulness, Shade maintains, enables us to avoid the paralysis of despair. Throughout the discussion, Shade gleans insights from a variety of sources, most notably John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath and Stephen King's novella ""Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption,"" but also from the real-life experiences of such heroes as Cedric Jennings and Martha Manning. These examples embody and illuminate the concept of hope and offer incentive and illustrations for developing a hopeful life. Shade's account shows how we can make hoping practical without forfeiting its unique capacity to help us grow.

About the Author :
Patrick Shade, an exciting new voice in the field of American philosophy, is an assistant professor of philosophy at Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee.

Review :
Illuminated throughout by vivid illustrations from literature, film, and Shade's own personal experiences, this book is insightful and informative in its philosophical investigations of such topics as the nature of hope, the differences between realistic hopes and futile hopes that only waste our energies, ways in which examples of some persons' lives can kindle and strengthen hope in others, and how constructive habits of hope can be nurtured. Shade's discussion is not only astute and satisfying, it is uplifting. It inspires hope in readers by helping them to ponder thoroughly the central role it plays in human experience. --Donald A. Crosby, Colorado State University Shade's discussion is not only astute and satisfying, it is uplifting. --Donald A. Crosby, Colorado State University This is a carefully wrought study in the virtue of hope undertaken from a pragmatic point of view that engages other, more traditional, accounts of hope in a sympathetic and dialogical fashion. It provides a novel and deep analysis of this virtue that goes far in demonstrating how pragmatism can advance our moral understanding and be applied to issues that affect daily human concerns. --Thomas Alexander, Southern Illinois University