is false hope better than no hope?

[Owl]

Response to the OP: false hope and no hope are equally bad.

False hope compels one to work toward an end that is worthless. No hope compels one not to work at all, thus creating nothing of value. In each case life is worthless.

 

[forzen]

False hope is the greater evil because the fall is higher when you've realized your situation has no way out; it's the worst kind of cruelty one can experience in my opinion. However, "no hope" is almost as bad, but the realization that there's no way out would put you in a mindset that embrace the inevitable.

 

[eagleseven]

False hope has its place, for example:

In the midst of a battle, a mortar goes off near you. You're mildly injured, but your buddy is in bad shape. You go over to him, and half of his torso was blown off. With only minutes left to live, your buddy looks you in the eyes and asks "Why can't I feel my legs? Am I going to make it?"

In this situation, giving him false hope, to protect him from the horrifying realization of his situation in his last living moments, is appropriate.

 

[Lark]

I think it was Seneca who wrote that he didnt give a fig for the human being who false hopes set afire, it remember it from Simone Weil's book on socialism "Liberty and Oppression", its pretty much a reflection on the betrayal in power of all they professed in opposition by the Russian Bolsheviks.

However, she makes a good point that it was the false hope that they could inspire that got them in the position to do that and peoples willingess to believe and hope when it would appear without much analysis to be false.

 

[Arclight]

I'm just wondering... is false hope in something- be it a placebo, a beleif system or what- better than having no hope at all, or is it better to ignore things that aren't true?

Hope gives people strength.
But hope can mislead.

I consciously try to never say the word hope. Instead I replace it with wonder.

I hope today is a good day VS I wonder if today will be a good day.

This shifts the balance of things more onto you and how you choose to deal with and perceive things.
You remove the emotional attachment you place on things, and instead take a more objective approach.

It has worked wonders as far as worrying about stuff goes.

 

[Virtual ghost]

Technically there is no difference since the oucome is the same.

 

[Feops]

The issue is not whether it would be easy, but whether its the most utilitarian course of action.

You'll need to clarify for me what you mean by utilitarian then. Do you mean the most useful? I would still say that false hope is inferior as the foundation of its belief is weak.

 

[lowtech redneck]

You'll need to clarify for me what you mean by utilitarian then. Do you mean the most useful? I would still say that false hope is inferior as the foundation of its belief is weak.

Utilitarian as in the greatest amount of personal happiness for the greatest number of people.

 

[quiet traveler]

Maybe it’s best to look at the functionality of that hope. What are its advantages vs. disadvantages? What role does it play in the larger story of that person’s life, or how does it cause them to “be” in the world? Because certain situations in life can be difficult to survive (even if just on a psychological/emotional level), then a particular belief or interpretation that spurs a person on through the challenge can be a good thing.

We’re constantly telling stories and making up interpretations of our world and experiences, so even if the “fall” from that previous hope that comes later (if it is found to be less than true), that would just lead to a reworking of the information and the formation of a better interpretation/story. If that belief did more good than harm, then why not?

Also, when speaking about hope in terms of spirituality, I wonder about hope itself as a way of “knowing.” Why does intellect get to trump emotion, especially in something like religion or spirituality, where we have no real way of telling what’s going on in the bigger scheme of things? Perhaps hope and emotion point in the direction of some truth, beyond just providing an existential story to pacify our needs and fears.

Andrew Newberg did some good work with this looking at the biology/neurology of belief. He makes a good point in saying that although we can watch the brain experience spiritual beliefs, and even replicate spiritual experiences on demand through artificial means, that does not disprove an objective existence of these things; perhaps all we are really witnessing is the pathway or means by which this experience takes place.

 

[The_Liquid_Laser]

I was watching an old episode of The Mentalist while folding laundry and it was showing flashbacks to his childhood working at a carnival- his father wants to market a "healing crystal" to a dying girl to make some money. It's false hope, there's no way that it will cure her, but are a few days of peace of mind that might result from it a good thing?

I'm just wondering... is false hope in something- be it a placebo, a beleif system or what- better than having no hope at all, or is it better to ignore things that aren't true?

It is always better to believe the truth over believing a lie. In this sense false hope is bad.

On the other hand if a person with cancer was given a placebo, and their cancer was cured as a result, then did they really have false hope to begin with?

 

[KDude]

I try to deliver bad news to people gently, but I don't think it's cool to bullshit them. Spreading joy is one thing.. but lying to people or ignoring issues is not helpful. There's kind of a fine line there. I think it's possible to find the positive even while exploring the facts. But I don't appreciate those people who ignore the big glaring problems in their and/or someone's life, and starting enforcing good vibes and hope just for the sake of it. Not everyone needs that. They just might want a friend who recognizes the problems with them, sticks around, and does practical things to improve the situation. In the original post though, it's a kid.. which is really sad. You don't want to get too serious with kids either :\

 

[Mole]

Utilitarian as in the greatest amount of personal happiness for the greatest number of people.

Yes, the greatest good for the greatest number, usually attributed to the Utilitarian philosopher, Jeremy Bentham. And we have named a street just around the corner from me, "Bentham Street". And this is no accident, for Utilitarianism is the philosophy we practise here.

Just click on -

Jeremy Bentham - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Rebe]

I was watching an old episode of The Mentalist while folding laundry and it was showing flashbacks to his childhood working at a carnival- his father wants to market a "healing crystal" to a dying girl to make some money. It's false hope, there's no way that it will cure her, but are a few days of peace of mind that might result from it a good thing?

I'm just wondering... is false hope in something- be it a placebo, a beleif system or what- better than having no hope at all, or is it better to ignore things that aren't true?

I'd say it depends on the situation and the person. Some people find peace in hope (hope by definition is sort of 'against enormous odds') and some people find peace in a no-bullshit truth. If the truth makes a person give up earlier than they have to, then it'd be more beneficial to believe in even a small percentage of chance, hope that the situation will change for the better, to keep trucking.

About the girl, it depends on her religious/philosophical views. It's wrong to con a dying girl...but on the other hand, maybe she wants to die with a smile on her face, something beautiful about having hope until the very, very last moment until you literally can't hope anymore. Why die in angst, waiting for death must be terrible I'd think, counting down the hours. But then, there are people who needs certainty, who wants to be able to handle the brutal truth and adjust themselves accordingly, something about pride, mental strength, people who know they are going to die and find it within themselves to be able to give a thumbs up and say peace out with their last breath.

Now that's strictly about death.

About belief systems - DON'T LIE TO ME! Don't try to convince me that there is another form of existence when you can't give me substantial proof. I rather deal with reality than listen to wishy washy lies. This isn't anti-religious, this is philosophical.

About placebos - ehm, medical ones? If it's about death, my response is above. If it means you won't die but will keep waiting for your uhm arm to become normal again, then that is cruel to keep someone waiting like that. It's better to learn as soon as you can to deal with the facts.

I am different about death because death is the ultimate finality, you won't wake up again to be disappointed, you won't wait too long either. I draw a line here. If false hope intrudes with living and your ability to handle your situation with no chance of improvement/change, then it is cruel, if it does not and it eases your final few hours, then it's dependable on the person.

Halfway through, I lost my train of thoughts, warning. Personally, I want the no-bullshit truth in all three categories and I want to be given the chance to deal/adjust to it by my own strengths and weaknesses, by my own unique combination of the two. Don't you lie to me. Don't make it easier for me. I'd like to see what I am made of.

 

[Shimmy]

I was watching an old episode of The Mentalist while folding laundry and it was showing flashbacks to his childhood working at a carnival- his father wants to market a "healing crystal" to a dying girl to make some money. It's false hope, there's no way that it will cure her, but are a few days of peace of mind that might result from it a good thing?

I'm just wondering... is false hope in something- be it a placebo, a beleif system or what- better than having no hope at all, or is it better to ignore things that aren't true?

False hope, when given with the intention of helping is a good thing. It can provide tremendous psychological benefits. Giving false hope to make money is a bad thing, unfortunately this is what most psychics do.

 

[miss fortune]

yeah- I was thinking about a time when I was the only person in my family who kept themselves together with false hope when everyone else became sad...

A few years ago my aunt was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and was given a few weeks at best to live- she had just been walking around, cooking and joking with me the day before! I refused to beleive that that was it... everyone else accepted it. This meant awkward hospital visits in which my aunt and I would discuss GW Bush being the most idiotic idiot ever, the wonders of tea and other silly prattle while everyone else discussed estate planning and funeral plans. Christmas was especially awkward, because in my blissfully delusional state, I happily dug into Christmas dinner and joked around with my aunt while everyone else barely kept from crying. I wasn't exactly the most welcome family member there

She died right before New Years and everyone else was expecting it- I wasn't and ended up getting wasted and punching a hole in the wall and sleeping with an enemy that evening, but I still feel that in a way, my false hope that she was going to survive ended up making things easier for her to deal with...

 

[Poki]

yeah- I was thinking about a time when I was the only person in my family who kept themselves together with false hope when everyone else became sad...

A few years ago my aunt was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and was given a few weeks at best to live- she had just been walking around, cooking and joking with me the day before! I refused to beleive that that was it... everyone else accepted it. This meant awkward hospital visits in which my aunt and I would discuss GW Bush being the most idiotic idiot ever, the wonders of tea and other silly prattle while everyone else discussed estate planning and funeral plans. Christmas was especially awkward, because in my blissfully delusional state, I happily dug into Christmas dinner and joked around with my aunt while everyone else barely kept from crying. I wasn't exactly the most welcome family member there

She died right before New Years and everyone else was expecting it- I wasn't and ended up getting wasted and punching a hole in the wall and sleeping with an enemy that evening, but I still feel that in a way, my false hope that she was going to survive ended up making things easier for her to deal with...

I think it helped. Sorry to rain on anyone here who is big in the "getting all the ducks in a line" estate planning, but that isnt for the person, its to keep from having a headache afterwards. To be blunt, after the person passes they are not gonna think "Oh crap, did I do XYZ". I am sure she appreciated it very much.

 

[miss fortune]

yeah... I just kind of wanted a good example of false hope being a good thing in a broader sense there

I think she enjoyed a chance to be snarky until the end!

 

[wildcat]

yeah- I was thinking about a time when I was the only person in my family who kept themselves together with false hope when everyone else became sad...

A few years ago my aunt was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and was given a few weeks at best to live- she had just been walking around, cooking and joking with me the day before! I refused to beleive that that was it... everyone else accepted it. This meant awkward hospital visits in which my aunt and I would discuss GW Bush being the most idiotic idiot ever, the wonders of tea and other silly prattle while everyone else discussed estate planning and funeral plans. Christmas was especially awkward, because in my blissfully delusional state, I happily dug into Christmas dinner and joked around with my aunt while everyone else barely kept from crying. I wasn't exactly the most welcome family member there

She died right before New Years and everyone else was expecting it- I wasn't and ended up getting wasted and punching a hole in the wall and sleeping with an enemy that evening, but I still feel that in a way, my false hope that she was going to survive ended up making things easier for her to deal with...

You were thinking about her. The others were thinking about themselves.
She knew. You made it easy for her to die.

 

[foolish heart]

it is better to have no hope than to have false hope, because it does not trap you and distract you from the real hope

 

[Zangetshumody]

false hope is just a form of wish thinking. Is the point of life to be reactionary and merely cope as best we can with thought scenarios in which we locate ourselves as victims in some predetermined narrative? Or could we bear to muster the moral courage to cling to whatever semblance of liberty our intellectual vigor might afford for us. Does no-one else's daemon protest at the sacrifice of the authentic life?