Probably old stuff for many of you, but I just happened to stumble upon Max More's Dynamic Optimism this weekend. What a tremendous perspective on how the world can work, and how we ought to work within it. I was particularly taken by More's opening paragraph:

Angry faces filled the meeting room in my Oxford college. A student presented to the meeting yet another proposal for a protest. Righteous wrath amplified her voice as she spoke of a letter condemning corporations investing in South Africa. During the 1970s, the protests had been against nuclear weapons, nuclear power, and pollution. During the mid-80s, while I studied at Britain’s Oxford University, the protesters complained about apartheid, hunger, poverty, and the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher. Surrounded by gloomy, pessimistic protestors, I realized that the object of the protest was not the important thing. What mattered was simply to protest, to be against something or someone. These often well-intentioned people had adopted protest as an approach to life.

Another reason why we don't "do" politics on The Speculist; so much political discourse these days -- especially on the web -- is primarily about what people are against. Being for something just seems like a much more straightforward way to get things done, doesn't it? Of course, there are things that we're against. I have gone the record as being pretty down on death, for example. But I don't spend a lot of time railing against death. I've written a lot more about how life can be made longer, richer, and happier than I have about how awful death is.

There's probably an 80-20 rule that can be applied here. If we spend at least 80% of our time being for positive changes and not more than 20% of our time working against bad stuff, that's probably a pretty good mix.

Here's More's outline of the dynamic optimist approach:

INTERPRETING EXPERIENCE POSITIVELY:

(1) Selective Focus: Emphasizing the enjoyable, constructive, open aspects of life.

(2) Refraining from Complaining: Avoiding pointless complaining and whining about one’s difficulties. Taking the world as it is and not complaining that life isn’t fair.

(3) Questioning Limits: A constructive skepticism that challenges the limiting beliefs held by ourselves, our associates, and our society. A fundamental creative openness to possibilities.

(4) Sense of Abundance: Feeling free to do what you want, rather than feeling compelled by circumstances or people. Recognizing the world to be full of opportunities. Being for things, not against things.

(5) Humor: Seeing one’s own shortcomings with a sense of humor. Allowing healthy, good-natured humor to reveal new perspectives and combat dogmatic thinking.

INFLUENCING OUTCOMES POSITIVELY:

(6) Rational: Using reason rather than being lead by fears and desires. Objectively assessing situations and taking action based on understanding reality apart from our wishes.

(7) Self-Improving: Optimists see the self as a process and seek continual improvement. Their drive to improve is not pushed by fear but pulled by a inspiring self-image.

(8) Experimental: Frequently trying fresh approaches, staying out of ruts, actively seeking more effective ways of achieving goals, and being willing to take calculated risks.

(9) Self-Confident: Believing that we can bring about good things. A fundamental conviction of competence in living.

(10) Self-Worth: Believing one is worthy of success and happiness. Without this, attempts to improve one’s life will lack motivation.

(11) Personal Responsibility: Taking charge and creating the conditions for success. Being aware of how we determine our chances of success. This crucially involves integrity: living according to one’s values.

(12) Selecting Environment: Being attracted to positive people and situations. Seeking out those who will support and inspire, not discourage, distract, and undermine.

It's an excellent approach. I can't find much to disagree with. What a tonic this is after our recent discussions (here and here) about a very different "positive" approach to life.

By all means, read the whole thing if you haven't before. And if you have read it, it might be worth a second pass.

UPDATE: Meanwhile, as I tout optimism, Michael Anissimov finds common ground with a self-described Luddite.