Philosophy of Hope Reading Group
We are facing multiple crises. Anxiously, we confront a bleak future. There is no hope. We muddle through from crisis to crisis, from one catastrophe to another, from one problem to the next. Amid problem-solving and crisis management, life withers. It becomes survival. The breathless survival society is like a terminal patient trying everything to find a cure. But only hope can give us back that life that is more than mere survival. It is hope that opens up a meaningful horizon that reinvigorates and inspires life. Hope presents us with a future.
Byung-Chul Han, The Spirit of Hope
Group Overview
In this group, we will engage in a philosophical exploration of the nature and value of hope, and its role in human life, by reading the following two books: Byung-Chul Han's The Spirit of Hope and Jonathan Lear's Radical Hope: Ethics in the Face of Cultural Devastation. Sessions will be facilitated by Kate Warlow-Corcoran.
Date and Time
Fortnightly from Wednesday 23 September to Wednesday 16 December 2026 for seven sessions.
The group will meet for two hours on Zoom at 10:30 am PT / 1:30 pm ET / 6:30 pm UK / 7:30 pm CET.
Week 1: Wednesday 23 September
Week 2: Wednesday 07 October
Week 3: Wednesday 21 October
Week 4: Wednesday 04 November
Week 5: Wednesday 18 November
Week 6: Wednesday 02 December
Week 7: Wednesday 16 December
Group Facilitator
Kate Warlow-Corcoran is a Managing Editor at The Philosopher and co-edited the December 2025 issue of our publication: Crossing the Floods. Since joining the team in 2023, she has facilitated many reading groups for The Philosopher. She has a deep interest in hope and how it can function in one's practical life, what it means to lose hope, and how one might cultivate and maintain a sense of possibility in the face of life's challenges.
Booking details
1. Registration fee: £35 for Supporters (paying Patreon members, regular donors, and print/digital subscribers). £65 for all other participants.
2. A limited number of free places are available for those who cannot afford to pay. If you wish to be considered, please contact us at: thephilosopher1923@gmail.com Free places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
3. The group size will be limited to 20 people, and priority will be given to our Supporters. Once the group is full, we will open a waiting list. Join the list to be notified if any places become available.
4. Participants will need to obtain copies of both texts: Byung-Chul Han's The Spirit of Hope and Jonathan Lear's Radical Hope: Ethics in the Face of Cultural Devastation. Supplementary readings will be provided by The Philosopher.
5. By joining this group, you agree to our Groups and Classes Policy.
If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact The Philosopher at thephilosopher1923@gmail.com