Comments on: Optimism

Optimism

homunculus — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 09:43:50 -0800

"The nearly 160 responses to this year's Edge Question span topics such as string theory, intelligence, population growth, cancer, climate and much much more. Contributing their optimistic visions are a who's who of interesting and important world-class thinkers."

By: Optamystic

Optamystic — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 09:51:17 -0800

Ironically, not much at all.

By: sour cream

sour cream — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 09:56:28 -0800

I, too, am optimistic about string theory.

By: Arcaz Ino

Arcaz Ino — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 09:57:45 -0800

I'm optimistic that we will continue to have something rather than nothing, which is a more generous gift than we could ever reasonably demand.

By: Bodyguard

Bodyguard — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 10:07:24 -0800

1)- The Continuing Evolution of the World Wide Web 2) - The Continuing Evolution of The Internet & High Speed. 3)- The Continuing Advances in Medical Science 4) - The Continuing Advances in Mobile and PC Tech Considering the advances that societies have seen just one decade, just try to imagine the above four technologies during the 2100s. Then, try to imagine them in the next century. :-o What technologies and science will our great-great grandchildren have. Unfortunatly, besides technology, it is difficult to be optimistic about politics.

By: SPrintF

SPrintF — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 10:14:43 -0800

I believe the world will continue to decline. However, I'm optimistic that we'll be able to document and understand the process, even if we're powerless to stop it.

By: homunculus

homunculus — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 10:14:54 -0800

And it gets harder to be optimistic about science when it becomes politicized.

By: Burhanistan

Burhanistan — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 10:29:01 -0800

I'm getting a raise soon.

By: Astro Zombie

Astro Zombie — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 10:32:52 -0800

I'm optinistic about half-full cups of liquid, and nothing else.

By: sfts2

sfts2 — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 11:30:57 -0800

The fundamental good of man outweighing the cynicism, religious mysticism, and other isms of man.

By: bruce

bruce — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 11:33:33 -0800

i'm optimistic that my crude oil etf shares will skyrocket after israel attacks iran. i'm also optimistic that ucla will win the ncaa basketball title.

By: maxwelton

maxwelton — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 11:35:41 -0800

By: PeterMcDermott

PeterMcDermott — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 11:53:22 -0800

I'm optimistic that the success of the prenatal anti-gay treatment will lead to a reduction in Metafilter fisting threads.

By: Tube

Tube — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 12:01:24 -0800

Thanks Homunculus, I had forgotten about the Edge and its wonderful essays. When I think back to how curious I was as a child growing up in Missoula Montana in the 60's and 70's, and how frustrating it was to simply get information of all sorts, I would have given my left nut to have had the Internet. Yes, the Internet is a force for good for humankind, and I'm grateful to be able to enjoy it in my lifetime. Like Dennett, I'm optimistic that information technology will help to erode the human pathology that is religion.

By: Laugh_track

Laugh_track — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 12:08:16 -0800

Spore... Super Smash Brothers Brawl...

By: Arcaz Ino

Arcaz Ino — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 12:13:29 -0800

The fundamental good of man outweighing the cynicism, religious mysticism, and other isms of man. Optimism?

By: papakwanz

papakwanz — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 12:26:20 -0800

I'm optimistic that I'm gonna get so high tonight, shit will be off the hook! I'm optimistic that there will be some really kick-ass games coming out for the Wii. I'm optimistic that that chick totally digs me and I'm going to get some.

By: Burhanistan

Burhanistan — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 14:14:33 -0800

I'm optimistic that honkytrash McMansions will be torn down as the planet exceeds its carrying capacity for humans and we realize how dumb it was to build suburban monuments to ourselves on formerly arable farmland. Or am I too early to this party? posted by maxwelton Too early, yes. Wait until rusty old cargo ships packed to the gills with immigrants and refugees start washing up on the American shores of the Gulf of Mexico to make that "optimistic" pronouncement.

By: Arthur "Two Sheds" Jackson

Arthur "Two Sheds" Jackson — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 15:02:00 -0800

Optimism-- that is, expecting good outcomes without satisfactory reason-- is antithetical to a truly scientific attitude, is it not?

By: The God Complex

The God Complex — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 16:30:37 -0800

I'm optimistic about the protocultural sentient insectoid race that come pouring forth from a baseship concealed in a dark nebula sometime next summer, and the bloody and irrevocably damaging wars to follow. But, more than that, I'm excited about the film adaptations to follow, including 2017's Spielberg/Hanks production Band of Bug Hunters, which will be hailed as "a gritty realization of the Insect Wars, a poignant, heartfelt exploration of proto-racism and one man's love for an insect bride."

By: dgaicun

dgaicun — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 16:55:57 -0800

What with the highly probable return of Jesus this year, what isn't there to be optimistic about?

By: tehloki

tehloki — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 18:27:30 -0800

Optimism is as dangerous as any other -ism. It results in poor planning.

By: hojoki

hojoki — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 18:28:41 -0800

I'm optimistic that the return of 24 and Prison Break will make Monday night TV tolerable again. Oh and that humankind will finally realize that...uh.. something something.

By: jason's_planet

jason's_planet — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 18:30:51 -0800

From one of the actual essays: The tendency to think optimism is superior to pessimism is a deep-rooted illusion. Optimism is useful in propitious situations. Pessimism is useful in dangerous situations. Optimism -- even a deluded, irrational, 100% counter-factual version -- can be very useful in dangerous situations. If you believe that you can get out of that situation, that you can ultimately overcome what faces you, you will be motivated to take whatever steps are within your power to achieve that goal. Pessimism, on the other hand, can weaken the will to survive.

By: tehloki

tehloki — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 18:33:53 -0800

When James Kim was stranded with his family, do you think it was pessimism that sent him away from his family on a dangerous, hopeful, and ultimately fatal journey? Or would he have been better off sticking with them, conserving energy (doing nothing) and just trying to survive?

By: carmina

carmina — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 18:41:08 -0800

great collection, humunculus, for New Year's day. Thanks! Pinker's optimism on the decline of violence is somewhat exaggerated, IMHO, because he bases it on statistical grounds, i.e. relative numbers. But the absolute numbers of the victims of violence in the 20th century are staggering. And if you also take into account the fact that violent crimes become more brutal in nature, particularly when compared to the contemporary prevailing "ethical norm", then I think it is unfair to base judgements on statistical notions alone. Besides, extrapolating into the future, do we expect a time where no violence will occur? Stable violence? Shermer's piece on Science and the decline of magic is very good and closes like that: Science arose out of magic, which it ultimately displaced. By the 18th century, astronomy replaced astrology, chemistry succeeded alchemy, probability theory dislodged belief in luck and fortune, city planning and social hygiene attenuated disease, and the grim vagaries of life became less grim, and less vague. As Francis Bacon concluded in his 1626 work, New Atlantis: "The end of our foundation is the knowledge of causes and the secret motions of things and the enlarging of the bounds of human empire, to the effecting of all things possible. Sic itur ad astra — Thus do we reach the stars." Unfortunately he too seems to be a little more optimistic than warranted about the power of religion today. Slowly plowing through the rest of the collection...

By: Pollomacho

Pollomacho — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 18:43:10 -0800

Do you think it was pessimism that sent him away from his family on a dangerous, hopeful, and ultimately fatal journey? Yes. He thought they would die if he did not try and save them. His pessimism killed him rather than his optimism that they would be saved.

By: jchgf

jchgf — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 19:51:10 -0800

tehloki: "When James Kim was stranded with his family, do you think it was pessimism that sent him away from his family on a dangerous, hopeful, and ultimately fatal journey? Or would he have been better off sticking with them, conserving energy (doing nothing) and just trying to survive?" Hindsight, hindsight.

By: Twang

Twang — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 20:15:49 -0800

I'm optimistic that most of the music that blows me will never, never, ever stop blowing.

By: mobunited

mobunited — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 04:14:21 -0800

Ah, yes, the "Third Culture." So, what iteration of "AI just around the corner!" comes with fries this year?

By: Deep Dish

Deep Dish — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 15:29:27 -0800

I am optimistic that Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez are going decide to go fight in Iraq.