In order to examine fully the nature of human beings Paul Ricoeur crossed disciplinary
boundaries in his work moving from phenomenology to social and political thought hermeneutics
and ethics. Running throughout Ricoeur¿s work ¿ particularly Fallible Man Time and Narrative
Oneself as Another and his shorter pieces on hermeneutics ethics and religion ¿ is a theme
of the human capacity for hope. According to Ricoeur hope is a capacity of expectation
oriented toward some future action which aims at a good for self and others. The conditions
for the possibility of hope are the unity and difference that exist within the self in
transcendental practical and effective realms and the self¿s ability to narrate which is
made possible by the self¿s existence within and understanding of time. Our capacity for hope
is understood via the symbols of good and evil found in myths and sacred writings. Furthermore
hope is not limited to those who are religious atheists may be just as hopeful as the devout.
Exploring the nature of hope in Ricoeur¿s work allows for a greater understanding of hope and a
greater ability to cultivate hope in oneself and others.
