No to Pessimism - Life, Diversity, Freedom, and Knowledge, with Optimism

A Manifesto for Life's Flourishing
In an era shadowed by pessimism, this book heralds a vibrant statement of optimism for both human and non-human life, grounded in diversity, freedom, and knowledge. It counters the gloom, acknowledging the widespread suffering and threats to our biosphere, yet it is driven by a mission to lessen this pain and enhance lasting human wellbeing. Our collective challenge-the wellbeing problem-is how to not just survive but to thrive. This exploration delves into necessary changes for sustained flourishing, highlighting the urgency of this existential quest. Within our current crises lie seeds of opportunity, the chance to envision and craft a new reality. This isn't a plea to those in power for systemic overhaul or utopian dreams; rather, it's a direct call to individuals. It urges us to fiercely guard our freedoms, recognizing that diversity and liberty fuel the growth of knowledge-our true wealth. The author's hope for life's future hinges on our embracing this responsibility with vigilance.

About the author

Dr Girol Karacaoglu, BA, MBA Bogazici (Istanbul, Turkey), PhD University of Hawaii, is Adjunct Professor in the Wellington School of Business and Government at Victoria University of Wellington (VUW), New Zealand. Dr Karacaoglu was the Head of School of Government at Victoria University until 30 June 2022. He came to VUW from the New Zealand Treasury, where he was Chief Economist. Before then, he was the Chief Executive of PSIS (now Co-operative Bank of New Zealand) for nine years. His research interest is in public policy: an integrated approach to transformative environmental, social, political, and economic policies towards improving intergenerational wellbeing. He is author or co-author of, amongst other publications: An Introduction to Financial Markets in New Zealand (1988); Intergenerational wellbeing and public policy – an integrated environmental, social, and economic framework (2019); Public policy and governance frontiers in New Zealand (2020); Social policy practice and processes in Aotearoa New Zealand (2021); Love You – public policy for intergenerational wellbeing (2021); Resilient democratic governance – navigating unity in diversity for sustainable well-being (2024).

Summary

A Manifesto for Life’s Flourishing
In an era shadowed by pessimism, this book heralds a vibrant statement of optimism for both human and non-human life, grounded in diversity, freedom, and knowledge. It counters the gloom, acknowledging the widespread suffering and threats to our biosphere, yet it is driven by a mission to lessen this pain and enhance lasting human wellbeing. Our collective challenge—the wellbeing problem—is how to not just survive but to thrive. This exploration delves into necessary changes for sustained flourishing, highlighting the urgency of this existential quest. Within our current crises lie seeds of opportunity, the chance to envision and craft a new reality. This isn’t a plea to those in power for systemic overhaul or utopian dreams; rather, it’s a direct call to individuals. It urges us to fiercely guard our freedoms, recognizing that diversity and liberty fuel the growth of knowledge—our true wealth. The author’s hope for life’s future hinges on our embracing this responsibility with vigilance.

Additional text

Are there biopsychosocial forces that encourage the emergence of more just and compassionate social orders? Economist Girol Karacaoglu believes there are, although such emergence is never guaranteed. He argues that societies that put a premium on liberty, pluralism,
and universal access to human capabilities are better at generating explanatory knowledge and the artifacts and institutions that embody it. Drawing on philosophers as diverse as Laozi, Spinoza, Popper, and Berlin, Karacaoglu introduces stimulating ideas on
every page. This thought-provoking book is a 'must read' for anyone interested in sustainable wellbeing.

—Seth Zuihō Segall, Ph.D.; Author of The House We Live In: Virtue, Wisdom, and Pluralism

Report

These are dark times. The world and the people living in it are facing serious economic, social, political, and environmental challenges that threaten human well-being and call for enlightened, collective action to combat and resolve. Drawing on the wisdom of the ages, Girol Karacaoglu formulates an ambitious program to address these challenges by calling on individuals to empower themselves by embracing diversity, promoting individual freedom, and practicing critical rationality in the search for the knowledge of how to bring about a social order that not only promotes human flourishing but offers hope for sustaining the planet on which we live. There is no guarantee that such a state of affairs can be brought about, but the author is optimistic that the principles elucidated in this book can serve as guidelines for establishing and maintaining a sustainable future for all. -Prof Michael Bradie, Professor Emeritus, Department of Philosophy, Bowling Green State University, USA

Product details

• Authors: Girol Karacaoglu
• Publisher: ibidem
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.07.2025
• EAN: 9783838220338
• ISBN: 978-3-8382-2033-8
• Dimensions: 148 mm x 15 mm x 210 mm
• Weight: 300 g
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Humanities (general); Philosophie, Humanismus, PHILOSOPHY / Epistemology, Philosophy, humanism