<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bedrock of optimistic fatalism is the belief in\nthe inevitability of progress. No matter\nhow intractable current problems may be, as long as human innovation and\ninvention are not subverted, all problems will be solved. This is the ultimate\nreason for the rationality of hope. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pessimistic fatalism does not believe in progress, but\nthat all human endeavors inevitably will fail. This leads to the failure of\nhope, an increasing belief in failed futures and a psychology of resignation\nand despair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As David Runciman points out, “The trouble with\nall fatalisms\u2014optimistic and pessimistic, ardent and resigned\u2014is that they\npreclude alternative futures.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is left out of these arguments on all sides, is considering what is offered up by dreams as potential sources of illumination. In this regard, I have had a dream that has impacted me to my core. It is a dream that speaks of celebrating the final<\/em> Ragnar\u00f6k. Such an image suggests that there will be no rebirth of humans following the final extinction. This is indeed an “alternate” future offered up by the dream and moreover not a future to be feared or negated but one to be celebrated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I have written this dream in the form of a poem. It is\nthis dream that at present is forming my view of the future. I will be blogging\nabout this a good deal in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Welcome\nand toast, $5.99 a cup<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The setting:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n An\nanywhere, everywhere <\/p>\n\n\n\n living\nroom middle crust<\/p>\n\n\n\n at\nbest or no crust at all<\/p>\n\n\n\n The characters:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Strangers\nall, but known <\/p>\n\n\n\n to\nme; everyone friendly<\/p>\n\n\n\n not\na party, but festal still<\/p>\n\n\n\n The hostess:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Black-gowned\nbut all<\/p>\n\n\n\n eyes\non the black earthen<\/p>\n\n\n\n cups,\nsquatting on her tray<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drink:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Black\ntoo, Blavod it is<\/p>\n\n\n\n libation\nfor night\u2019s time<\/p>\n\n\n\n black\nclay holding black<\/p>\n\n\n\n The toast<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n She\nsays it costs $5.99<\/p>\n\n\n\n a\ncup for this final toast<\/p>\n\n\n\n just\ndrink up and welcome<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ragnarok<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n From\nDreampoems<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ragnar\u00f6k\ndream, March 1, 2015<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The bedrock of optimistic fatalism is the belief in the inevitability of progress. No matter how intractable current problems may be, as long as human innovation and invention are not subverted, all problems will be solved. This is the ultimate reason for the rationality of hope. Pessimistic fatalism does not believe in progress, but that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-623","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-coming-soon"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ralockhart.com\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/623","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ralockhart.com\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ralockhart.com\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ralockhart.com\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ralockhart.com\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=623"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.ralockhart.com\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/623\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":624,"href":"https:\/\/www.ralockhart.com\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/623\/revisions\/624"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ralockhart.com\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=623"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ralockhart.com\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=623"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ralockhart.com\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=623"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}