Hope is a basic affection of the mind. This philosophical analysis will clarify the concept by dealing with its involvement in knowledge, ethics and metaphysics. Being a belief, oscillating between knowledge and ignorance, hope is prone to illusion and disappointment. Man can be guided and manipulated by hope. Therefore its role within ideology and enlightenment will be investigated. We will reflect on whether hope may be a blessing or an evil and on how intellectual freedom is possible.

DR. ORTRUN SCHULZ, born 1960 in Hannover, Germany. Master of Arts in Philosophy and English Linguistics 1986, PhD in Philosophy 1993. From 1992 until 2005 editor of Schopenhauer-Jahrbuch. Private research and various publications.