In this thesis the phenomenon of fundamental hope is understood as atmosphere. As a metaphor
hope as atmosphere finds a new expression of hope other than the light-metaphor that dominates
the discourse of hope. Hope is not only the light that illuminates the dark moments of life
but also more fundamentally in the air it lies in the sphere in-between and saturates each
life experience and every living moment. As an existential reality hope as atmosphere reveals
our hopeful way of atmospheric co-existence. Communal love constitutes the ground of this
hopeful co-existence it keeps the hopeful co-existence constantly refreshed and open
guaranteeing more possibilities of hope. On the basis of communal love hopeful co-existence
shows its ontological meaning as a way towards life. The thesis of hope as atmosphere finds
resonance and expression not only in Christian trinitarianly based understanding of hope but
also in the most central doctrine of co-humanity in Confucianism.
