The bedrock of optimistic fatalism is the belief in the inevitability of progress.  No matter how intractable current problems may be, as long as human innovation and invention are not subverted, all problems will be solved. This is the ultimate reason for the rationality of hope.

Pessimistic fatalism does not believe in progress, but that all human endeavors inevitably will fail. This leads to the failure of hope, an increasing belief in failed futures and a psychology of resignation and despair.

As David Runciman points out, "The trouble with all fatalisms—optimistic and pessimistic, ardent and resigned—is that they preclude alternative futures."

What is left out of these arguments on all sides, is considering what is offered up by dreams as potential sources of illumination. In this regard, I have had a dream that has impacted me to my core. It is a dream that speaks of celebrating the final Ragnarök. Such an image suggests that there will be no rebirth of humans following the final extinction. This is indeed an "alternate" future offered up by the dream and moreover not a future to be feared or negated but one to be celebrated.

I have written this dream in the form of a poem. It is this dream that at present is forming my view of the future. I will be blogging about this a good deal in 2019.

Welcome and toast, $5.99 a cup

The setting:

An anywhere, everywhere

living room middle crust

at best or no crust at all

The characters:

Strangers all, but known

to me; everyone friendly

not a party, but festal still

The hostess:

Black-gowned but all

eyes on the black earthen

cups, squatting on her tray

The drink:

Black too, Blavod it is

libation for night’s time

black clay holding black

The toast:

She says it costs $5.99

a cup for this final toast

just drink up and welcome

Ragnarok

From Dreampoems

Ragnarök dream, March 1, 2015