I think it's very odd that you think you don't hope anymore. I think it's an emotion which can be explained in evolutionary terms, much as anything related to a biological entity can be. If, for example, we were define hope as the (conscious or unconscious) wish for an event to transpire, then I have no doubt this could be very easily explained. For example. I was just eating steak, and it was delicious. My dog was sitting near me, eyeing my steak, and (in terms of my definition) "hoping" to get some. Taking this model then, perhaps in social mammals, "hope" has been rewarded (and the behavior reinforced) in one way when related organisms share food? I know this is a silly example, but it's 5:30 in the morning and hopefully (ha!) you get my drift.
On a more philosophical level, I think that hope is actually just a term for caring about the future. If you do not have any hope (not in the dramatic, "All hope is lost," sense) then what are you doing, living? Eating and sleeping and not looking towards the future... Seems impossible to me. I hope all the time, even little things, like I hope it isn't any trouble for me to register for my classes, etc. But is there a purpose to hope? Is there a purpose to anything at all?! Not from my point of view. Hope is just a motivator.
I think you're comparing two unlike things here. First, what is the purpose to feeling sad? There is, again, none at all. But more importantly, sadness in the manifestation you're talking about is a reactionary emotion, whereas hope is not necessarily. It is a very interesting point, though- would anyone do anything at all if they were not motivated by hope? If a hunter didn't have any hope that he would make a kill and be able to eat, would he bother?
On a more philosophical level, I think that hope is actually just a term for caring about the future. If you do not have any hope (not in the dramatic, "All hope is lost," sense) then what are you doing, living? Eating and sleeping and not looking towards the future... Seems impossible to me. I hope all the time, even little things, like I hope it isn't any trouble for me to register for my classes, etc. But is there a purpose to hope? Is there a purpose to anything at all?! Not from my point of view. Hope is just a motivator.
Quote: Just as you don't really feel something emotionally unless you first believe it - E.G you don't feel sad about something unless you believe something sad is happening... - why would you feel hope unless you believed there was a purpose to it?
I think you're comparing two unlike things here. First, what is the purpose to feeling sad? There is, again, none at all. But more importantly, sadness in the manifestation you're talking about is a reactionary emotion, whereas hope is not necessarily. It is a very interesting point, though- would anyone do anything at all if they were not motivated by hope? If a hunter didn't have any hope that he would make a kill and be able to eat, would he bother?
