Hope

I have made several contributions to the debates about hope. In Hope as Political Virtue I argued that hope is best understood as a compound psychological state that includes a desire for something (a), the belief it is possible (c), and the taking of these as a reason to act (where possible) to pursue the desired object (c). I argued that in the context of the South African democratic transition hope is a virtue. In Hope for Material Progress in the Age of the Anthropocene I argue that the active psychic commitments of hope entail personal opportunity costs that render it reasonable to seek hope-makers to support an attitude of hope. In Hope and Reasons I discuss the ways in which hope is sensitive to reasons, and I argue that in cases of collective action hope can be especially beneficial.

Books

The global climate crisis and other pressures on planetary ecology cause profound anxieties for humanity. Climate change threatens to trap hundreds of millions of people in dire poverty-widening the gap in an already deeply divided economy. However, a new generation of activists is offering inspiration, raising hopes in a seemingly hopeless situation. In Mobilizing Hope: Climate Change and Global Poverty, Darrel Moellendorf discusses climate change, global poverty, justice, and the importance of political responses, both internationally and domestically, that offer hope. While there are reasons to worry that the era of pervasive human planetary impact, the Anthropocene, could produce terrible global injustices and massive environmental destruction, that need not be so. Moellendorf contends that the work of bringing about a world united in creating sustainable solutions to environmental crises, that values the Earth's natural wonders, and actualizes a vision of economic justice, is the work of mobilizing hope. 

Further Articles und Chapters

“Hoffnung und Gründe" in Rainer Forst and Klaus Gunther, eds. Normative Ordnungen, Suhrkamp Verlag, 2021, 648-671. English version available here.

Hope in Political Philosophy," Philosophy Compass, April 2020. Co-authors: Jakob Huber and Claudia Blöser.

Three Interpretations of the Anthropocene: Hope and Anxiety at the End of Nature” Ethics, Politics, and Society, 3, 2020.  

Hope for Material Progress in the Age of the Anthropocene" in Claudia Blöser and Titus Stahl, eds. The Moral Psychology of Hope (London and New York: Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).

“Reconciliation as a Political Value," Journal of Social Philosophy, 38:2, 2007, 205-221.

“Hope as a Political Virtue," Philosophical Papers, 35:7, Nov. 2006, 413-433. 

News

Jan 10
08:00 AM

"Ukraine has no Jus ex Bello obligation to enter into concessionary negotiations" - Moellendorf in the FAZ

Original version and English translation of Moellendorf's recent article in Frankfurter Allegmeine Zeitung: “Ukraine has no Jus ex Bello obligation to enter into concessionary negotiations"

Jan 8
08:00 AM

Workshop: Conservation and Global Justice

Workshop with Chris Armstrong on his new book manuscript "Conservation and Global Justice: Responding fairly to the Biodiversity Crisis". More information here.

Dec 7
09:00 AM

CfA: Two Postdoctoral Fellowship in the program Global Health Justice

The Global Health Justice Postdoctoral Programm
is seeking to appoint up to two post-doctoral fellows for the academic year 2023/2024. More information here.
Apr 21
12:00 AM

Moellendorf mentioned in recent UN-report

Professor Moellendorf's 2020 paper “Responsibility for Increasing Mitigation Ambition" was mentioned and cited in the recent UN-report on climate change mitigation. See chapter 4, page 99.

Dec 12
12:00 AM

Moellendorf in the Daily Maverick

Darrel Moellendorf's reflections on eco-sabotage in the Daily Maverick can be found here.

Dec 8
12:00 AM

Moellendorf guest on "Hessen schafft Wissen" podcast

Darrel Moellendorf was interviewed for the podcast "Hessen schafft Wissen". You can listen to the interview under the heading "Mobilizing Hope in the Face of Climate Change" here.

Jul 1
12:00 AM

Panel discussion on the topic "Der urbane Planet"

Darrel Moellendorf participated in a discussion on the topic "Der urbane Planet - soziale, ökonomische und ökologische Herausforderungen für das globale Zusammenleben der Gegenwart" as part of the tinyMONDAY on the 5th of July. You can find further information here.  

Dec 11
12:00 AM

Conference on the topic "Normative Economic Policy"

Moellendorf gave a talk at the conference "Normative Economic Policy". You can find further information here