The Principle of Hope: the Foreword

This article presents a translation of an excerpt from the introduction to Ernst Bloch’s renowned work, The Principle of Hope. The author formulates the initial questions and outlines his methodological position for the study of the phenomenon of hope. The introductory section presents an overview of the principal challenges associated with the study of hope in the context of European philosophical thought. The fundamental tenets of Bloch’s philosophical system are presented, including the concepts of the “Not-Yet-Conscious”, the “Novum,” and the “Front.” The role of Marxism in providing the philosophical groundwork for the concept of hope is illuminated.