Why sociology needs optimism,especially in troubled times

Abstract

Optimism is vital to doing sociology. I explain how pessimism and optimism have featured as orientations within sociology and argue for the continued importance of a critically optimistic sociology, especially in our troubled times. I propose that insights from the sociology of emotions can help sociologists in doing optimistic sociology by rethinking how to do critique and in understanding how present feelings inform actions that produce futures. Symbolic Interactionist ideas can also aid critical optimism by conceptualising feeling multiple selves as formed in changing relations to others. I envision critically optimistic sociology as a gentle, relational achievement that can resist capitalist appropriation of what feels good. Critical forms of optimism are important if sociologists are to contribute to teaching, and other forms of knowledge sharing, that can make sense of the present but also feel our way toward better days.