False hope: A philosophical analysis

Abstract

The aim of this article is to provide a unified account of hope by defining and discussing false hope. Hope cannot be understood without understanding false hope. The article distinguishes between ordinary hopes and fundamental hope on the one hand, and highlights the close relation of fundamental hope to despair on the other. In the philosophical literature, false hope is assumed to be wishful thinking or unreasonable hope. I argue that false hope is neither wishful thinking nor unreasonable hope, but arises instead from a conflict between ordinary hopes, fundamental hope, and despair. According to the account presented here, false hope is any ordinary hope that either implicitly increases the temptation to despair, or masks suppressed despair.