Some time ago I wrote about the virtues of Faith and Reason and the dynamic tension between the two. Consider now another application of these concepts: Hope and Fear. Again, let us begin with a working definition, this time building upon the aforementioned Virtues. Hope and Fear may both be seen as expressions of Faith: Hope is Faith that things can get better, while Fear is Faith that things can get worse. Each of these may be tempered by application of Reason.
Both Hope and Fear serve a valuable purpose, each in their own way. Hope allows us to move forward in the face of adversity, while Fear guides us away from danger. However, each can lead us astray if not examined through the lens of Reason. Hope entices us to buy a lottery ticket, while Reason reminds us that the odds of winning are vanishingly small. Likewise, the Fear that cautions us against flying may be assuaged by applying Reason to the actual likelihood of being involved in a plane crash.
As in other cases of opposing Virtues, the best path lies in the middle ground between the two. A life without Hope is a life without ambition, while a life without Fear is liable to end in avoidable disaster. Both Hope and Fear are easy for the unscrupulous to stoke in others, creating believable possibilities that elicit emotional responses. It is therefore wise to be vigilant against being misled — whether by others or by own own imaginations — by presenting the shield of Reason against a Faith that may be misplaced.