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The first challenge regarding hope in the Anthropocene relates to the comment made in class by Sam, in which he suggested that hope and realism were in opposition, or that one negated the other. I believe this thought reflects the assumption that hope is beyond the realm of possibility, that…

Discussion prompt: Is there hope in the Anthropocene? Where do we find it? Can we make it? What can we do? Hope is a powerful feeling. It drives us through tough times and encourages us to find a solution. I believe that there is hope in every situation, whether during…

I firmly believe there is always hope – simply because hope is simply a figment of the imagination. One can be hopeful no matter the circumstances. However, as Maria Popova said, “Critical thinking without hope is cynicism, but hope without critical thinking is naïvete.” This is a long way of…

Hope is an intensely personal form of expression, sometimes shared by thousands for the same goal, yet unique in origin to each person. My own hope flourishes when I see “stupid” acts of kindness in the world. These altruistic anomalies are not governed by reason. They prove the future is…

Hope is evident across the Anthropocene. I strongly believe that people do not act unless they are hopeful. For example, one of the main reasons I am studying at Duke rather than at my local state school for a much lower price is because I hope my education will help…

I think it’s not only important – but vital – to remember that hope still exists, even in the dismal landscape of the Anthropocene. I believe, similar to Rebecca Solnit, that hope is rooted in action. I think realism is an excuse for inaction – it is a safe island…

There is hope, but hope is dwindling. My own hope for the future took a major hit after reading “Contribution of Antarctica to past and future sea-level rise” in one of my Environmental Science classes last year. The paper revealed that the inclusion of the melting of buttress ice shelves…

Last semester, I studied abroad with the School for International Training – we analyzed the causes, impacts, and politics surrounding climate change in Vietnam, Morocco, and Bolivia.1 This program was simultaneously one of the most depressing and yet one of the most inspiring experiences I’ve had. Our lectures, discussions, and…

KSR followed some socialist ideal in constructing the world. In El Modena, people seem to work for work’s sake. It seems that they don’t particularly want what is extra to their current ways of living. Except for Alfredo and the AAMT, no one seems to want more materially. Everyone seems…

The way I read a novel is that I play a movie in my head as it progresses. I see every scenario that appears in the book, in my head. For this reason I lived through Kevin in the book by KSR. From seeing life from Kevin’s eyes I not…