L’espoir comme antidote à la peur et comme moteur de l’apprentissage

Abstract

Is it possible to educate to hope and to put this mental attitude at the basis of great achievements? According to Martha Nussbaum, yes, provided that one does not rely on hope as an end in itself, but on the kind of hope that requires a major individual commitment in the world. The most strongly educational aspect of this vision lies in the 'schools of hope', illustrated by the philosopher, and in the use of national civil service, as strongly formative for the younger generations and of valuable help for the many problems that cross today’s society.