#104 | Without meaning, there is no hope

"Hope is not supposed to be for fools."

What can we do when trust in progress, prosperity, and society is eroding—and we are left with the feeling that everything is becoming increasingly complex, uncertain, and contradictory? In a world where crises overlap, there seem to be no easy answers anymore. And yet, we need visions of the future that make it worthwhile to keep going. But what does hope look like that is not naive – but active, mature, and reflective?

"Hope is the energy that allows you to embrace life."

Philipp Blom is a German writer, historian, and essayist. In his books and lectures, he deals with the major upheavals of history and draws conclusions for our present. In conversation with Georgiy Michailov, he explains why genuine hope is not wishful thinking, but can be drawn from responsibility and meaning. And why hope is not nourished by security, but by a willingness to embrace uncertainty—in relationships, in society, and in one's own thinking.

"You can't know the future – but you can invest in it."

Philipp Blom also discusses the difference between hope and optimism, the role of freedom, and the risks of a life that seeks security above all else. He talks about prosperity without meaning, democracy as an imposition, ancient philosophical concepts such as Eros, responsibility, and community—and why hope does not need guarantees to be effective.

*Video only in German