RSA Thursday

Why, despite dark days and gloomy news headlines, do we invariably start each New Year afresh with positive resolutions and belief in a better, brighter future?

Where do these endless reserves of optimism come from, and are they always a good thing?

Is there ever a danger in being too optimistic? Could it be argued that the economic collapse was at least in part symptomatic of a society intent on ignoring the warning signs and blithely marching on full of naive and blind hope?

The optimism reflex seems to be a protective mechanism, shielding us from the psychological damage caused by hopelessness, and ensuring we work to bring about change and strive for ever more productive, more fulfilled lives. But that reflex is perhaps also the one that causes most of us to claim we are 'above-average drivers', borrow more money than we can ever hope to repay, and what tempts so many of us to dismiss global warming as a myth.

Join us in the week that contains the year’s officially gloomiest day (when debt, freezing temperatures and fading Christmas memories bring the national mood to record lows) to ask:
Is a strongly optimistic outlook the key to a resilient, productive society? Or do we need a pinch of pessimism to stir us into action when real catastrophe looms?

Speakers to include: comedian and writer, Laurence Shorter, author of the The Optimist (Canongate, Jan 2010)

Suggested hashtag for Twitter users: #rsaoptimist