A Critical Analysis of “Radical Hope” versus “Optimism” in Terry Eagleton’s Thought

This research undertakes a critical investigation of the ontological distinction between "Hope" and "Optimism" within the intellectual framework of Terry Eagleton. The central problem concerns the critique of the ideology of optimism as a neoliberal construct—one that, by denying the "Tragic" and erasing historical memory, reproduces subjective passivity in the face of structural catastrophes. Employing a descriptive-analytical method and a critical approach, this paper argues that by synthesizing radical Marxism with virtue theology, Eagleton formulates "Radical Hope" not as a mere psychological desire, but as a political praxis and a rational virtue that germinates only through the acceptance of failure and the traversal of the realm of catastrophe.

The findings indicate that while Eagleton's thought faces challenges regarding its metaphysical foundations and cultural universality—revealing certain aporias in explaining the transcendent source of hope when compared to concepts such as Raja in Islamic Wisdom—his ability to shatter the idol of false optimism and reconstruct human agency in an "age of closure" remains undeniable. Ultimately, this article demonstrates that, according to Eagleton, "Hope without Optimism," grounded in moral stamina and fidelity to the excluded subjects of history, is the only path toward reclaiming human dignity and resisting global disasters. It is a hope that links activism not to the guarantee of victory, but to the truth of standing against the necessity of evil.